The role of location and motion information in the tracking and recovery of moving objects

Percept Psychophys. 2007 May;69(4):567-77. doi: 10.3758/bf03193914.

Abstract

Observers in a multiple object tracking task can track about four to five independently moving targets among several moving distractors, even if all of the stimuli disappear for a 300-msec gap. How observers reacquire targets following such a gap reveals what kind of information they can maintain for targets. Previous research has suggested that participants maintain minimal information about a set of moving objects--namely, just their present spatial locations. We report five new experiments that demonstrate retention of location information for at least four objects, and extrapolated motion information for around two objects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motion Perception*
  • Retention, Psychology*
  • Space Perception*