The constancy of object orientation: Compensation for ocular rotation

Abstract

When a thin horizontal line is displaced, either left or right of straight ahead, or when a vertical line is displaced up or down, systematic changes occur in the binocular disparity associated with the target. In three experiments, Ss matched the orientation of displaced targets with a variable comparison line. Estimates of apparent displacement with a pointing technique were also made. Since head position was fixed, apparent displacement was mediated by the angle of ocular rotation. Near perfect matches were made with vertical targets, but horizontal targets produced errors suggestive of underestimation of apparent displacement. However, the pointing data did not yield clear evidence for this view. Control data denien the possible role of the induced effect (IE) in matching the horizontal targets, and the result were discussed in the context of orientation constancy based upon compensation for displacement. © 1973 Psychonomic Society, Inc.