An Experimental Approach to Solving the Aperture Problem with EEG Scans of the V5 and Power Analysis

Previous literature has examined the influence of early visual processing in relation to motion perception (Koivisto et al., 2010). Specifically, in order to comprehend motion in the visual world, our senses have to integrate various local motion signals that are made by the moving object we are examining (Pack & Born, 2001). However, when examining a moving object with a limited view, this becomes quite complicated and leads to the aperture problem. The aperture problem addresses how we recognize ambiguous moving objects under occluders. Much existing literature on this problem examines the responses of the MT neuron of the macaque monkey with simple stimuli and circular apertures, and loosely compares this to the V5 of the human visual cortex. In this study, we wish to address the time it takes for the V5 to solve the aperture problem with more complex stimuli. We will present participants with Michael Bach’s Breathing Square Illusion, which is a rotating square under an occlusion made of four corner squares. We will have the occluding squares gradually decrease and participants will be responsible for pressing a button when they notice a switch in their perception of the visual scene. The switch entails seeing a “pulsating cross” change to a global rotating square. Following power analysis, the results of this study should demonstrate a significant increase in power at the .25 Hz condition in the post-switch interval compared to the pre-switch interval. Furthermore, there should be no significant difference for the 1 Hz condition from the pre vs. post switch intervals.