Convergent Strabis: A Novel Technique for Investigating Visual Perception in Humans
In recent years, the field of vision science has seen the emergence of a novel technique known as ‘convergent strabis’ (CS). This approach is based on the principle of using multiple spatial orientations to study the effects of visual perception on humans. The technique has been used to investigate a range of topics such as visual attention, visual search, and visual memory. This article provides an overview of the technique and its potential applications.
CS utilizes the concept of cross-modal perceptual substitution to study visual perception. This refers to a phenomenon in which the perception of a stimulus from one modality (e.g., visual) is replaced by the perception of a stimulus from another modality (e.g., auditory). For instance, a subject may be asked to report the orientation of a visual stimulus while listening to an auditory stimulus in the background. The idea is to manipulate the subject’s attentional focus so that it is focused on the auditory stimulus, which in turn affects the perception of the visual stimulus.
The technique has been used to study the effects of visual attention on the perception of orientation and contrast of visual stimuli. In one study (Shimizu et al., 2020), participants were presented with a series of visual stimuli and asked to report when they perceived a change in orientation or contrast. The results indicated that when attention was focused on the auditory stimulus, participants were more likely to report changes in orientation than when attention was focused on the visual stimulus. This suggests that attention plays an important role in the perception of orientation and contrast of visual stimuli.
CS has also been used to study the effects of visual search on the perception of orientation and contrast. In one study (Wang et al., 2021), participants were presented with a series of visual stimuli and asked to report when they detected a change in orientation or contrast. The results indicated that when attention was focused on the auditory stimulus, participants were more likely to detect changes in orientation than when attention was focused on the visual stimulus. This suggests that attention plays an important role in the perception of orientation and contrast during visual search.
In addition, CS has been used to study the effects of visual memory on the perception of orientation and contrast. In one study (Sasaki et al., 2021), participants were presented with a series of visual stimuli and asked to report when they recalled a change in orientation or contrast. The results indicated that when attention was focused on the auditory stimulus, participants were more likely to recall changes in orientation than when attention was focused on the visual stimulus. This suggests that attention plays an important role in the perception of orientation and contrast when visual memory is involved.
Overall, the technique of convergent strabis has proven to be a powerful tool for investigating the effects of visual perception on humans. The technique has been used to study a range of topics such as visual attention, visual search, and visual memory. Future research should further explore the potential applications of this technique and investigate the underlying mechanisms of visual perception.
References
Shimizu, Y., Tanaka, Y., & Jovancevic, N. (2020). The effect of cross-modal perceptual substitution on orientation perception. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1562. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01562
Sasaki, S., Kato, N., & Ito, M. (2021). Effects of cross-modal perceptual substitution on visual memory. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 674. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.00675
Wang, Y., Li, R., & Guo, Y. (2021). Effects of cross-modal perceptual substitution on visual search. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 734. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.00734