Vection (illusion of self-motion) can be induced by stimulating a small portion of retina. However, a review of literature shows that most of the studies on vection utilized large field-of-views (FOVs) to induce vection. In this thesis, the minimal FOV conditions that can induce compelling vection have been investigated through a series of experiments.

Results of our experiments showed that vection can be induced with two narrow stripes (1 degree by 5 degree area) of moving dots. The other findings of our experiments on narrow/small FOVs include: (i) keeping ceiling light off induces more compelling vection compared to keeping it on; (ii) higher speed of stimuli is associated with more compelling vection within the speed limits of this study; (iii) frontal occultation by means of a...[ Read more ]

Vection (illusion of self-motion) can be induced by stimulating a small portion of retina. However, a review of literature shows that most of the studies on vection utilized large field-of-views (FOVs) to induce vection. In this thesis, the minimal FOV conditions that can induce compelling vection have been investigated through a series of experiments.

Results of our experiments showed that vection can be induced with two narrow stripes (1 degree by 5 degree area) of moving dots. The other findings of our experiments on narrow/small FOVs include: (i) keeping ceiling light off induces more compelling vection compared to keeping it on; (ii) higher speed of stimuli is associated with more compelling vection within the speed limits of this study; (iii) frontal occultation by means of a cardboard induces more compelling vection compared to staring at an LED with open view; (iv) linear vection is more compelling compared to circular vection with our stimuli; (v) there is no significant difference between the vection measures of the two narrow stripes of dots moving approximately 140 degrees horizontally apart to 90, and 60 degrees apart in the front; and (vi) peripheral vision is more sensitive to vection information compared to central vision. All of these findings are tested; and their claims are found to be statistically significant.

Based on the results of our early experiments, a theory (referred to as ‘the Connection Theory’) was proposed in order to explain vection behavior at narrow/small FOVs. Later experiments of this thesis provide more exploration and evidence to support and revise the Connection Theory. This theory attempts to explain why and how small FOV visual motion induces vection by investigating the cognitive relationship between viewers and the environments surrounding them.