Local nonuniformity of the visual perception in the peripheral vision field

Experimental data about local spatial nonuniformity in orientation selectivity and brightness sensitivity in the human peripheral vision field is described. In addition to the known macrodynamics of sensory tuning sharpness in direction from the fovea to the periphery estimated in consequent 10° areas of the vision field, local alteration of high- and low-selective microareas with period 2°-8°, is shown. Subject reaction time in response to stimuli presented inside high-selective microareas is significantly less than in low-selective microareas (the mean time difference for light spot stimuli is 120 msec). Revealed local nonuniformity may reflect some basic mechanisms of context encoding foveal information and next fixation point choosing before estimation of object perceptual importance. A possible use of the obtained results for development of advanced biologically-motivated artificial foveal system is considered