Effect of Self-Movement on Visually Directed Throwing: Implications for Distance Perception

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of running on a treadmill on distance perception, by using a visually directed throwing task. Based upon previous research carried out in an open field that demonstrates that targets are perceived further away when running on a treadmill compared to when standing, we sought to examine if this effect persisted within a shorter range of distances, suitable for a throwing task. Fourteen athletes (five women and nine men) with normal or corrected-to-normal vision and good physical condition participated in the study. In Experiment 1, participants made indirect distance estimates of targets located at 6 m, revealing larger distance estimates during running. Experiment 2 utilized a throwing task to assess distance perception while running or standing static on a treadmill. Participants were required to throw balls into a hoop, aiming to put the ball through the hoop without visual feedback. The results showed that running on a treadmill influenced distance perception, leading to larger throws. These findings suggest that the perception of distance is a process that relies on perceptual cues and sensorimotor feedback. We propose a conceptual model based on the idea that the perceived speed of locomotion is the result of mutually inhibitory interactions between visual and proprioceptive motor information.