But opinion zigzags like a learner driver on just how much information the brain needs to judge heading. Wann and Swapp offer a new steering model that makes such arguments irrelevant. This particular by-pass is quick, easy and available to all. Taking a bend becomes a simple matter of picking the right spot to watch. Science fiction fans have the best chance of understanding why.
Stars streak out when spacecraft are shown accelerating to light speed.
When the Millennium Falcon turns sharp left the stars appear to flow to the right. If drivers focus at a point on a curve, then it appears at the centre of this display. Flow lines then show if the car will pass through that point. Steer too sharply on a left-hand bend, for example, and flow lines turn to the right. This instant feedback allows the brain to judge future paths without knowing 'heading' the researchers say.