Effect Of Duration Estimation On Perception Of Traversed Distance

In the recent spatial researches, distance perception has been a primary concern for understanding how human beings establishes a memory of location and navigates in an environment. Evidence has suggested that individuals can perceive the magnitude of a traversed distance without vision. In this case, idiothetic information and perceived duration are two cues that remain available. While much is now known about the role of idiothetic information in traversed distance perception, the specific role of duration has not been explored.To investigate the involvement of temporal mechanisms in distance processing, we conducted a series of studies investigating aspects of traversed distance perception - a skill that typically involves integrating input from both proprioceptive and temporal duration information. In Exp. 1 we first explored segmentation effect in duration estimation in hopes of establishing a proper experimental paradigm which we could subsequently use to test the specific role of duration estimation on distance perception. We then decoupled the temporal cues from the idiothetic cues in order to evaluate the contributions of duration estimation to traversed distance perception. In Exp. 2 Ss traversed a distance and were then required to walk again to; both reproduce the extent of the learned distance and reproduce the duration of travel. Again intervening auditory events served as a means of segmenting the duration. In Exp. 3, Ss traversed two distances and were required to make discrimination judgments related to either, the distance extent or the duration of travel. Segmentation was...