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Adaptation to Simultaneous Multi-Dimensional Distortions

Littman, Eric Marshall

Abstract Details

2011, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Psychology.
The concept of the perception-action cycle (the idea that perceptual information guides behavior and that behavior updates perceptual information) is at the heart of much of the research inspired by James Gibson’s Ecological approach to psychology. Inherent in this idea is that the information obtained by the perceptual systems can be used to guide subsequent actions, particularly in a manner that allows for the completion or reaching of some future state or goal—this has been termed prospective control. What happens when the perceptual information obtained does not support action (or actions that the organism is familiar with)? In a series of studies, I have examined the consequences of disrupting the perception-action cycle on participants’ ability successfully regulate their behavior. Participants were instructed to navigate through a virtual maze (2 dimensional) by moving a virtual pointer controlled by their head motion. I manipulated the relation between their motion and the resultant optical movement in the display (single axis inversion, dual axis inversion, complex dual axis inversion) as well as how much visual structure they were provided. Overall, results indicated that as participants adapted, their motion became more efficient (decrease in time to completion) and more goal directed (prospective, indicated by increases in Hurst exponent). The complex distortion condition elicited a significant amount of motion sickness (46%). I found that participants who became sick did not show an increase in efficiency (increased time to completion) and exhibited more exploratory motion than those who remained well (lower Hurst exponent values). The ability to anticipate or predict the relation between perceptual information and action is necessary for adaptation to occur—when this ability is not supported performance and physiologic deficits are likely.
L. James Smart, PhD (Committee Chair)
Leonard Mark, PhD (Committee Member)
Lynn Olzak, PhD (Committee Member)
Mark Walsh, PhD (Committee Member)
76 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Littman, E. M. (2011). Adaptation to Simultaneous Multi-Dimensional Distortions [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1311961424

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Littman, Eric. Adaptation to Simultaneous Multi-Dimensional Distortions. 2011. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1311961424.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Littman, Eric. "Adaptation to Simultaneous Multi-Dimensional Distortions." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1311961424

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)