The role of peripheral vision in the flashed face distortion effect

Bowden, Jamie, Whitaker, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8271-7552 and Dunn, Matt J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0295-2182 2019. The role of peripheral vision in the flashed face distortion effect. Perception 48 (1) , pp. 93-101. 10.1177/0301006618817419

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Abstract

The flashed face distortion effect is a phenomenon whereby images of faces, presented at 4–5 Hz in the visual periphery, appear distorted. It has been hypothesized that the effect is driven by cortical, rather than retinal, components. Here, we investigated the role of peripheral viewing on the effect. Normally sighted participants viewed the stimulus peripherally, centrally, and centrally with a blurring lens (to match visual acuity in the peripheral location). Participants rated the level of distortion using a Visual Analogue Scale. Although optical defocus did have a significant effect on distortion ratings, peripheral viewing had a much greater effect, despite matched visual acuity. We suggest three potential mechanisms for this finding: increased positional uncertainty in the periphery, reduced deployment of attention to the visual periphery, or the visual crowding effect.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Optometry and Vision Sciences
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	0301-0066
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 December 2018
Date of Acceptance:	12 November 2018
Last Modified:	28 Nov 2024 15:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/117387

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