Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
All visual objects suddenly recede to the apparent distance of the
horizon and remain in that position several minutes, returning at the
end of this period to their original positions. This return movement
is very slow at the beginning, but the latter phase of the movement is
quite rapid. If the subject closes her eyes while the objects appear
at their distant position she cannot even _imagine_ those objects
located anywhere except at their apparent distant position.
In all cases (encountered by Carr) the motion in both directions is an
actual experience reality and the subject was helpless as to
initiating, stopping, or modifying the course of the illusion in any
way. Objects and even visual images (which are subject to the same
illusions) decrease in size in proportion to the amount of backward
movement and grow larger again on their return movement. The objects
are always clearly defined as if in good focus. In this particular
case the illusion occurred about twice a year, under a variety of
conditions of illumination, at various times of the day, but
apparently under conditions of a rather pronounced fatigue.
In regard to the variation in the size of objects, many who have
experienced these illusions of depth testify that the size seems to change
in proportion to the apparent distance, according to the law of
perspective. Some persons appear in doubt as to this change and a few have
experienced the peculiar anomaly of decreasing size as the objects
apparently approached.
Many persons who have experienced these peculiar illusions report no
change in the distinctness of objects; almost as many are uncertain
regarding this point; and as many report a change in distinctness.
Apparently there are phases of hallucinatory origin so that there is a
wide variety of experiences among those subject to this type of illusion.
According to Carr's investigation internal conditions alone are
responsible for the illusion with more persons than those due to external
conditions alone. With some persons a combination of internal and external
conditions seem to be a necessity. Fixation of vision appears to be an
essential objective condition for many observers. That is, the illusion
appeared while fixating a speaker or singer in a church or a theater. With
others the illusion occurs while reading. Some reported that fixation upon
checkered or other regularly patterned objects was an essential condition.
Among the subjective conditions reported as essential are steady fixation,
concentration of attention, complete mental absorption, dreamy mental
abstraction, and fatigue.
Ocular defects do not appear to be essential, for the illusions have been
experienced by many whose eyes were known to be free from any
abnormalities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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