Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
Proper consideration of the position of the dominant light-source and of
the shadows will usually provide the data for a correct conclusion.
However, habit and probability are factors whose influence is difficult to
overcome. Our perception is strongly associated with accustomed ways of
seeing objects and when the object is once suggested it grasps our mind
completely in its stereotyped form. Stairs, glasses, rings, cubes, and
intaglios are among the objects commonly used to illustrate this type of
illusion. In connection with this type, it is well to realize how
tenaciously we cling to our perception of the real shapes of objects. For
example, a cube thrown into the air in such a manner that it presents many
aspects toward us is throughout its course a cube.
[Illustration: Fig. 27.--Illustrating fluctuation of attention.]
The figures which exhibit these illusions are obviously those which are
capable of two or more spatial relations. The double interpretation is
more readily accomplished by monocular than by binocular vision. Fig. 27
consists of identical patterns in black and white. By gazing upon this
steadily it will appear to fluctuate in appearance from a white pattern
upon a black background to a black pattern upon a white background.
Sometimes fluctuation of attention apparently accounts for the change and,
in fact, this can be tested by willfully altering the attention from a
white pattern to a black one. Incidentally one investigator found that the
maximum rate of fluctuation was approximately equal to the pulse rate,
although no connection between the two was claimed. It has also been found
that inversion is accompanied by a change in refraction of the eye.
[Illustration: Fig. 28.--The grouping of the circles fluctuates.]
Another example is shown in Fig. 28. This may appear to be white circles
upon a black background or a black mesh upon a white background. However,
the more striking phenomenon is the change in the grouping of the circles
as attention fluctuates. We may be conscious of hollow diamonds of
circles, one inside the other, and then suddenly the pattern may change to
groups of diamonds consisting of four circles each. Perhaps we may be
momentarily conscious of individual circles; then the pattern may change
to a hexagonal one, each "hexagon" consisting of seven circles--six
surrounding a central one. The pattern also changes into parallel strings
of circles, triangles, etc.
[Illustration: Fig. 29.--Crossed lines which may be interpreted in two
ways.]
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