Previous theorists have conceptualized apparent reversals of direction of rotation either as misperceptions based on misleading perspective cues or as chance events occurring in the absence of valid depth cues. On the basis of three experiments with six stimulus figures observed by five practiced Os, it was concluded that apparent motion reversals are a consequence of an automatic, abrupt apparent reversal of orientation in depth, analogous to a perspective reversal. It was found that these apparent reversals (1) are systematic, non-random events and (2) occur quite readily in the absence of misleading perspective cues or in the presence of valid depth cues.
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