Walking, looking to the side, and taking curved paths

Cutting, James E.; Readinger, Wilson O.; Wang, Ranxiao Frances

doi:10.3758/bf03194714

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(94 reference statements)

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“…Currently, we are investigating the specific effects of backward-motion and navigating in light of the static distortions we have found. Cutting et al (2002) touch upon posterior space by examining heading distortions while moving forwardöthe novel twist being the use of the anterior and sagittal space for this task. We hope to integrate these findings to better predict navigation behavior in the unusual but relevant case of backward locomotion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distortions of Posterior Visual Space

Phillips

Voshell

2009

Perception

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The study of spatial vision is a long and well traveled road (which, of course, converges to a vanishing point at the horizon). Its various distortions have been widely investigated empirically, and most concentrate, pragmatically, on the space anterior to the observer. The visual world behind the observer has received relatively less attention and it is this perspective the current experiments address. Our results show systematic perceptual distortions in the posterior visual world when viewed statically. Under static viewing conditions, observer's perceptual representation was consistently 'spread' in a hyperbolic fashion. Directions to distant, peripheral locations were consistently overestimated by about 11 degrees from the ground truth and this variability increased as the target was moved toward the center of the observer's back. The perceptual representation of posterior visual space is, no doubt, secondary to the more immediate needs of the anterior visual world. Still, it is important in some domains including certain sports, such as rowing, and in vehicular navigation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distortions of Posterior Visual Space

Phillips

Voshell

2009

Perception

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“…It is possible, for example, that during locomotion a head rotation automatically releases the steering synergy (Grasso et al, 1998). Indeed, Cutting, et al (2002) found slight veering in the direction of a fixation target 5°–10° to the left or right, both with lights on and off (lateral deviation of 0.4m over a 5 m distance); however, they did not record head or eye movements. Vallis and Patla (2004) reported that when an involuntary head yaw perturbation was applied to the head while participants attempted to walk straight, they exhibited significant path deviations in the direction of the head rotation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…One popular account is that the direction of travel (i.e. heading) is controlled by fixating the goal and then aligning the head and body with the gaze direction – in short, people follow their eyes and head (Cutting, Readinger, & Wong, 2002; Land & Tatler, 2001; Sreenivasa et al, 2009; Wilkie, R.M., et al, 2010). Indeed, skiers and mountain bikers are advised to look where they want to go, not at obstacles in their path, on the belief that people steer where they look.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the voluntary head turn condition, Vallis and Patla (2004) presented an explicit goal (a target on the wall) and found no significant path deviations, whereas in the head perturbation condition participants continued to walk ‘along the travel path’ without a goal and exhibited significant path deviations. Similarly, Cutting, et al (2002) instructed participants to “walk straight ahead” without a locomotor goal and observed slight path deviations. It is likely that an explicit goal is important for steering control because it provides an environment-centered reference frame for guiding locomotion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do walkers follow their heads? Investigating the role of head rotation in locomotor control

Cinelli

Warren

2012

Exp Brain Res

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Eye and head rotations are normally correlated with changes in walking direction, however it is unknown whether they play a causal role in the control of steering. The objective of the present study was to answer two questions about the role of head rotations in steering control when walking to a goal. First, are head rotations sufficient to elicit a change in walking direction? Second, are head rotations necessary to initiate a change in walking direction or guide steering to a goal? To answer these questions, participants either walked towards a goal located 7m away or were cued to steer to the left or right by 37°. On a subset of trials, participants were either cued to voluntarily turn their heads to the left or right, or they underwent an involuntary head perturbation via a head-mounted air jet. The results showed that large voluntary head turns (35°) yielded slight path deviations (1–2°) in the same or opposite direction as the head turn, depending on conditions, which have alternative explanations. Involuntary head rotations did not elicit path deviations despite comparable head rotation magnitudes. In addition, the walking trajectory when turning toward an eccentric goal was the same regardless of head orientation. Steering can thus be decoupled from head rotation during walking. We conclude that head rotations are neither a sufficient nor a necessary component of steering control, for they do not induce a turn and they are not required to initiate a turn or to guide the locomotor trajectory to a goal.

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“…6 It has also been demonstrated that looking to the side at an object causes a slight curvature in one's walking trajectory toward the direction of gaze. 38 In the absence of reliable vision cues such as when walking blindfolded, a walking trajectory deviation contralateral to the eye or head rotation is observed instead. 39 In the present study, head and foot starting positions were aligned with the room's coordinates before the participants started to walk, but the eyes might have been oriented in one or another direction.…”

Section: Visuospatial Neglectmentioning

confidence: 99%