The perception of dynamic objects II: Theoretical specification, extension and real-world implementation

• Applicant: Dr. Simon Merz
• Subject Area: General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 443697090

The second part of the project aims to deepen the understanding of the Speed Prior Account of motion perception (Merz et al., 2022), with a primary focus on how speed expectations are formed and adapted in various contexts. The project will explore the influence of prior experiences and situational cues on the perception of moving objects. This investigation seeks to determine the degree to which experiences in different dynamic environments contribute to shaping speed expectations, thus providing insights into the contextual specificity of these expectations. A critical component involves contrasting SPA predictions against Error Management Theory, particularly for stimuli moving in depth, a dimension less explored in previous localization research. This comparison will address key questions about the processing of approaching versus receding stimuli and the role of sensory input versus speed expectation in forming the final percept, thereby contrasting these predictions against the arguments of an selective, adaptive bias for approaching stimuli, derived from error management theory. This phase will also extend the theory's application to real-world settings, specifically analyzing baseball hitting data to understand how speed expectations influence human behavior in dynamic object interception tasks. This comprehensive approach will provide significant insights into how our perceptual system forms and adapts speed expectations, with implications for understanding human perception in both controlled experimental settings and everyday dynamic environments.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Christian Frings