Determinants of the perception of rotation in depth or translation in apparent motion

Abstract

Depth ambiguous apparent motion may occur when two outline shapes with marked orientation differences are used in an apparent motion sequence, e.g. when two arrow-like shapes are presented pointing in opposite directions. In such cases two distinct percepts may be reported: the object may appear to undergo a two dimensional-movement accompanied by a distortion of the contours (plastic deformation) or it may appear to rotate in depth (rigid rotation). The terms in brackets were coined by Kolers and Pomerantz (1971) to describe the phenomena reported by their subjects