仮想現実空間における知覚的群化

抄録

Perceptual grouping has been examined mainly by presenting visual stimuli in a 2-D field. In this study, we examined the characteristics of perceptual grouping in 3-D space by utilizing virtual reality (VR) technology. We used an elongated thin cylinder as the basic element. Participants were asked to find a predefined target made of five cylinders among the 1000 cylinders in the VR space. The orientation of the five cylinders of the target was varied systematically. The participant could move their head or body freely while searching. We found that in the VR space, the observers were sensitive to the structure in which the elements were oriented in parallel with each other. This structure was difficult to find in the 2-D field. These results indicate that in a 3-D space, the elements are perceptually grouped by utilizing the information from head and body movements which was not available while searching for a target in the 2-D field.