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Binghamton University

The oblique effect as a measure of digital media overuse

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The oblique effect noted by an evolutionary bias toward 0° and 90° contours over oblique reflects the statistical distribution of contours in the visual environment such that there is more neural representation in the visual cortex (area V1) for horizontal and vertical (anisotropic) contours than otherwise ((Hubel & Wisel, 1962). The oblique effect has developed in mammalian and non-mammalian species because of exposure to the visual environment (Annis & Frost, 1973; Hipp et al., 2020; Henrich et al., 2010). Preliminary data demonstrates that digital media use may exacerbate the oblique effect, but further investigation is needed to understand the perceptual, physiological, and ontological parameters of this effect (Hipp et al, 2020). The purpose of this study is to develop a toolbox that can use orientation discrimination as an indicator of environmental exposure to canonical content: A steady state visual oddball paradigm task (SSVOP) and a psychophysical staircase that will enable reliable assessment of the oblique effect. Results of experiment 1 showed significant amplitude changes as a function of tilt from base orientation and results of experiment 2 successfully showed the oblique effect reflected by higher overall contour discrimination at vertical and horizontal and oblique contours respectively (H</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science (MS)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Psychology
Year dc:date.available
2024

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Authors dc:creator
  • Hackert, Victoria D.
  • <p><a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0271-6673">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0271-6673</a></p>
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Peter C. Gerhardstein, PhD

Subjects

dc:subject × 10

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:orb.binghamton.edu:dissertation_and_theses-1388

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Binghamton University
Base URL
orb.binghamton.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Hackert, Victoria D.; <p><a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0271-6673">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0271-6673</a></p>. The oblique effect as a measure of digital media overuse. Thesis thesis, 2024. https://orb.binghamton.edu/dissertation_and_theses/382