SHARPENING OF DRIFTING, BLURRED IMAGES

The perceived blur of moving images is less than expected given the sl uggish temporal response of the visual system. This suggests that a mo tion deblurring mechanism may exist to preserve the positional acuity and sharpness of moving images. Furthermore, when sequences of blurred stills are presented, observers report that the moving image is in sh arp focus raising the possibility that there is a mechanism which may sharpen the appearance of moving, blurred images. We have measured the effects of velocity and contrast on the perceived blur of drifting, b lurred images (sine gratings and blurred edges). Subjects matched the perceived blur of drifting, blurred images to that of static, blurred images in a dimly lit room, It was found that perceived blur was inver sely related to drift speed and contrast. The results confirm that mov ing, blurred images may appear sharper than when they are static. This finding is not consistent with some models of motion deblurring since these account only for the preservation of sharp contours that are pr esent in the image and not for the sharp appearance of images that are in fact blurred.