In an experiment,observers first view an adapting stimulus in which small dots on a computer screen all move steadily toward the right.They then view a test stimulus in which they must determine whether a patch of dots is stationary or moving.Based on your text's discussion,you might predict that the adapting stimulus would
A) decrease observers' absolute threshold for motion detection.
B) increase observers' absolute threshold for motion detection.
C) have little or no effect on observers' absolute threshold for motion detection.
D) decrease observers' difference threshold for motion detection.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon being described is called the motion aftereffect, which causes a person's perception of motion to be skewed after viewing a prolonged exposure to a certain direction of motion. In this case, since the adapting stimulus has small dots moving steadily towards the right, the observer's motion perception is biased towards perceiving motion in the opposite direction, which would be leftward. Therefore, the absolute threshold for motion detection in the leftward direction would increase, making it more difficult for the observer to detect motion in that direction.

In an Experiment,observers First View an Adapting Stimulus in Which