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Rotation of a 3-D object around different axes

Axis of rotation determines how the view of an object changes instantaneously, along with various visual cues, such as shading, shadow, mirror reflection, glare, and occlusion. Rigid geometry predicts that the response of a motion-sensitive neuron, to a first approximation, should have a preferred rotation axis in three-dimensional space with cosine tuning function and linear angular speed modulation, regardless of the exact cues used and the exact computational mechanisms involved.

How does the brain represent arbitrary motion of a 3-D object? Existing data are inadequate for us to draw a conclusion. In a recent paper (J. Neuroscience, in press, PostScript manuscript available from my publication page), we have made a number of specific predictions. Please contact us if you are interested in doing experiments to resolve this issue.


Kechen Zhang, 1999