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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.03.23.003061

Does gravity shape internal representations of space for human 3D perception?

Morfoisse, T.·Herrera Altamira, G.·Angelini, L.·Clement, G.·Beraneck, M.·McIntyre, J.·Tagliabue, M.
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Abstract

Human 3D perception of visual objects is flawed by distortions, which are influenced by non-visual factors, such as gravitational vestibular signals. Whether gravity acts specifically on the visual system or at a higher, modality-independent, level of information processing remains unknown. To test these modality-specific vs modality-independent hypotheses, we performed experiments comparing visual versus haptic 3D shape perception in normo-gravity and microgravity. The results obtained for upright and supine posture in 1g show that visual and haptic perceptual anisotropies are systematically in opposing ego-centered, but not gravity-centered, directions suggesting they share a common origin. On the other hand, microgravity significantly modulates both visual and haptic perceptual distortion in the same direction. Overall, our results show a clear link between the visual and haptic perceptual distortions and demonstrate a role of gravity-related signals on a modality-independent internal representation of 3D space used to interpret incoming sensory inputs.

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Morfoisse, T., Herrera Altamira, G., Angelini, L., Clement, G., Beraneck, M., McIntyre, J., Tagliabue, M.. 2020-03-25. Does gravity shape internal representations of space for human 3D perception?. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.23.003061

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