Effect of practice versus information on the visual illusion.
- Author:
Abbas A KHORASANI
1
;
Javad S FADARDI
;
Marziyeh S FADARDI
;
W Miles COX
;
Jafar T SHARIF
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adult; Brain; physiology; Cognition; physiology; Female; Humans; Illusions; physiology; Learning; physiology; Male; Models, Neurological; Neuropsychological Tests; Orientation; physiology; Pattern Recognition, Visual; physiology; Photic Stimulation; Sex Characteristics; Visual Perception; physiology
- From: Neuroscience Bulletin 2007;23(1):30-34
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVEThe Muller-Lyer illusion is a visual illusion in which a horizontal shaft with an inward-pointing chevron (fins-out) affixed to each end is perceived longer than a shaft with outward-pointing chevrons (fins-in). The goal of this study was to compare the effects of experience and knowledge about the Muller-Lyer illusion on participants' perceptual precision.
METHODSParticipants were undergraduate students (n = 108) who were not familiar with the Muller-Lyer illusion prior to the experiment. The task of participants was to adjust one movable line to make it equal to the other in Muller-Lyer figure. They received ascending and descending Muller-Lyer trials in three blocks with 20 trials each. The Experimental Group received information about the Muller-Lyer illusion prior to the third block.
RESULTSFor the Experimental Group, the amount of departure in Block 3 was reduced significantly compared with previous blocks.
CONCLUSIONKnowledge about the mechanisms underlying visual illusions may play an important role in helping individuals overcome them.
