Motion-Induced Blindness and Motion Streak Suppression

In motion-induced blindness (MIB), persistent static targets intermittently disappear when presented near moving elements [1, 2]. There is currently no consensus regarding the cause or causes of MIB [3-7]. Here, we link the phenomenon to a mechanism that is integral for normal human vision, motion streak suppression [8]. The human visual system integrates information over time [9], resulting in streaks of activity across visual brain regions when objects move [10, 11]. These "motion streaks" are usually suppressed from awareness. Our results suggest that this process shapes MIB. We show that MIB is enhanced at the trailing edges of movement and that both MIB and motion streak suppression are impaired at equiluminance. These findings suggest that an apparent failure of human vision, MIB, is at least partially driven by a functional adaptation that facilitates clear perceptions of moving form.