Representational momentum and the landmark attraction effect

The effect of a large stationary landmark on memory for the location of a smaller moving target was examined. Forward displacement of the target was larger when the target moved toward the landmark than when it moved away from the landmark. Target size and direction of motion also influenced displacement. When the target passed close by the landmark, forward displacement of the target was larger before the target passed by the cardinal axis of the landmark than after the target passed by the cardinal axis of the landmark. Memory for a target that passed by a landmark was also displaced toward the target along the axis orthogonal to motion. Control experiments ruled out biases toward the centre of the screen as causing the differences in displacement. The data support the hypotheses that representational momentum may combine with landmark attraction effects to influence the displacement of a target along the axis of motion.