Effectiveness of the ability to form mental images in Müller-Lyer optical illusions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish whether wing length and the ability to form spatial mental images and vivid images affected optical illusions obtained in the Müller-Lyer figures, both real and imagined. The study involved a group of 137 fine arts college students who were shown two forms of the Müller-Lyer figures with different wing length (15 and 45 mm). In the imagined situation, a plain horizontal line was presented, and participants were expected to imagine the arrowheads aligned in the same way as in the real situation. Discrepancies in the perception of the horizontal lines in the Müller-Lyer illusion (“Point of Subjective Equality”) were measured both in the real and imagined situation. Participants were then asked to complete the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire and the Measure of the Ability to Form Spatial Mental Imagery. It emerged that, in the condition of 45 mm wing length, participants were significantly more susceptible to the illusion than those in the condition of 15 mm wing length. Additionally, in the real situation, participants scoring high in spatial image were significantly more resistant to the illusion than those scoring low.

Keywords

Müller-Lyer illusion geometric illusion spatial imagery imagery vividness fine arts students

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Ansari

M. M.

(2018). Optical illusions quintuple during laparoscopic total extraperitoneal preperitoneal (TEPP) hernioplasty: A case report. International Journal of Surgery Science, 2, 33–36. https://doi.org/10.19080/JOJCS.2018.08.555745

Bednarek

Przedniczek

Wujcik

Olszewska

J. M.

Orzechowski

(2022, April 7). Cognitive training based on human-computer interaction and susceptibility to visual illusions. Reduction of the Ponzo effect through working memory training. SSNRA. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4077517

Berbaum

Chung

C. S.

(1981). Müller-Lyer illusion induced by imagination. Journal of Mental Imagery, 5, 125–128.

Blanuša

Zdravković

(2015). Horizontal-vertical illusion in mental imagery: Quantitative evidence. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00033

Brown

A. R.

Pouw

Brentari

Goldin-Meadow

(2021). People are less susceptible to illusion when they use their hands to communicate rather than estimate. Psychological Science, 32, 1227–1237. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797621991552

Campos

(2009). Spatial imagery: A new measure of the visualization factor. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 29, 31–39. https://doi.org/10.2190/IC.29.1.c

Campos

(2013). Reliability and percentiles of a measure of spatial imagery. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 32, 427–431. https://doi.org/10.2190/IC.32.4.f

Campos

Campos-Juanatey

(2020). Measure of spatial orientation ability. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 39, 348–357. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276236619896268

Campos

González

M. A.

Amor

(2002). The Spanish version of the vividness of visual imagery questionnaire: Factor structure and internal consistency reliability. Psychological Reports, 90, 503–506. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.2002.90.2.503

10.

Coren

Porac

(1983). The creation and reversal of the Müller-Lyer illusion through attentional manipulation. Perception, 12, 49–54. https://doi.org/10.1068/p120049

11.

Coren

Porac

(1987). Individual differences in visual-geometric illusions: Predictions from measures of spatial cognitive abilities. Perception & Psychophysics, 41, 211–219. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208220

12.

Cretenoud

A. F.

Grzeczkowski

Bertamini

Herzog

M. H.

(2020). Individual differences in the Müller-Lyer and Ponzo illusions are stable across different contexts. Journal of Vision, 20, 17. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.20.6.4

13.

Denis

(1991). Image & cognition. Harvester Wheatsheaf.

14.

Dragoi

Lockhead

(1999). Context-dependent changes in visual sensitivity induced by Müller–Lyer stimuli. Vision Research, 39, 1657–1670. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0042-6989(98)00198-9

15.

Eagleman

(2001). Visual illusions and neurobiology. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2, 920–926. https://doi.org/10.1038/35104092

16.

George

Mallery

(2003). SPSS For windows steps by step: A simple guide and reference. 11.0 update. Allyn & Bacon.

17.

Giusberti

Cornoldi

De Beni

Massironi

(1998). Perceptual illusions in imagery. European Psychologist, 3, 281–288. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040.3.4.281

18.

Goodale

M. A.

Milner

A. D.

(1992). Separate visual pathways to perception and action. Trends in Neurosciences, 15, 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-2236(92)90344-8

19.

Gori

Molteni

Facoetti

(2016). Visual illusions: An interesting tool to investigate developmental dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 175. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00175

20.

Grzeczkowski

Clarke

A. M.

Francis

Mast

F. W.

Herzog

M. H.

(2017). About individual differences in vision. Vision Research, 141, 282–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2016.10.006

21.

Gulyás

Gombos

Sütöri

Lovas

Ziman

Kovács

(2022). Visual imagery vividness declines across the lifespan. Cortex, 154, 365–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2022.06.011

22.

Heller

M. A.

Brackett

D. D.

Wilson

Yoneyama

Boyer

Steffen

(2002). The haptic Müller-Lyer illusion in sighted and blind people. Perception, 31(10), 1263–1274. https:/doi.org/10.1068/p3340

23.

Karpinskaia

Lyakhovetskii

Shoshina

(2020). The estimation of the Müller-Lyer and Ponzo illusions under the influence of physical fatigue induced by Harvard step test. Procedia Computer Science, 169, 869–875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2020.02.228

24.

Kosslyn

S. M.

(1973). Scanning visual images: Some structural implications. Perception & Psychophysics, 14, 90–94. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03198621

25.

Marks

D. F.

(1973). Visual imagery differences in the recall of pictures. British Journal of Psychology, 64, 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1973.tb01322.x

26.

Millar

Al-Attar

(2002). The Müller-Lyer illusion in touch and vision: Implications for multisensory processes. Perception & Psychophysics, 64, 353–365. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03194709

27.

Miyake

Witzki

Emerson

(2001). Field dependence-independence from a working memory perspective: A dual-task investigation of the hidden figures test. Memory, 9, 445–457. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658210143000029

28.

Mlyniec

Bednarek

(2016). Field dependence, efficiency of information processing in working memory and susceptibility to orientation illusions among architects. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 47, 112–122. http://doi.org/10.1515/PPB-2016-0012

29.

Morgan

(2018). Perceptual biases in elementary geometry. In Hubbard

T. L.

(Ed.), Spatial biases in perception and cognition; spatial biases in perception and cognition (pp. 9–23). Cambridge University Press.

30.

Morgan

M. J.

Hole

G. J.

Glennerster

(1990). Biasesand sensitivities in geometrical illusions. Vision Research, 30, 1793–1810. https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6989(90)90160-M

31.

Nieuwenhuys

Oudejans

R. R. D.

(2010). Effects of anxiety on handgun shooting behavior of police officers: A pilot study. Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 23, 225–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615800902977494

32.

Ohkuma

(1986). A comparison of image-induced and perceived Müller-Lyer illusion. Journal of Mental Imagery, 10, 31–38.

33.

Pérez-Fabello

M. J.

Campos

(2011a). The dissociative experiences of fine arts students. Nordic Psychology, 63, 72–81. https://doi.org/10.1027/1901-2276/a000028

34.

Pérez-Fabello

M. J.

Campos

(2011b). Dissociative experiences and creativity in fine arts students. Creativity Research Journal, 23, 38–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2011.545721

35.

Pérez-Fabello

M. J.

Campos

(2011c). Dissociative experiences, creative imagination, and artistic production in students of fine arts. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 6, 44–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2010.11.001

36.

Pérez-Fabello

M. J.

Campos

(2022a). The Müller-Lyer illusion through mental imagery. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03979-y

37.

Pérez-Fabello

M. J.

Campos

(2022b). High dissociatives, nature versus nurture? Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02663-x

38.

Pérez-Fabello

M. J.

Campos

Campos-Juanatey

(2016). Is object imagery central to artistic performance? Thinking Skills and Creativity, 21, 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2016.05.006

39.

Pérez-Fabello

M. J.

Campos

Felisberti

F. M.

(2018). Object-spatial imagery in fine arts, psychology, and engineering. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 27, 131–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2017.12.005

40.

Pérez-Fabello

M. J.

Campos

Meana

J. C.

(2014). Vividness and control of mental imagery and the components of in-depth drawing. Creativity Research Journal, 26, 244–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2014.901097

41.

Porac

(1994). Comparison of the wings-in, wings-out, and Brentano variants of the Müller-Lyer illusion. The American Journal of Psychology, 107, 69–83. https://doi.org/10.2307/1423290

42.

Posner

M. I.

(2012). Imaging attention networks. Neuroimage, 61, 450–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.040

43.

Previc

F. H.

Ercoline

W. R.

(2004). Spatial disorientation in aviation. American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics.

44.

Przedniczek

Bednarek

(2021). Cognitive and temperamental determinants of susceptibility to the Müller-Lyer illusion. Personality and Individual Differences, 172, 110555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110555

45.

Reisberg

Morris

(1985). Images contain what the imager put there: A nonreplication of illusions in imagery. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 23, 493–496. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329863

46.

Restle

(1977). Assimilation produced by contrast. In Castellan

N. J.

RestIe

(Eds.), Cognitive theory (Vol. 3). Psychology Press.

47.

Restle

Decker

(1977). Size of the Mueller-Lyer illusion as a function of its dimensions: Theory and data. Perception & Psychophysics, 21, 489–503. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198729

48.

Richardson

(1969). Mental imagery. Springer.

49.

Schwartz

B. L.

Krantz

J. H.

(2015). Sensation and perception. Sage Publications.

50.

Surkys

(2021). An auditory time perception illusion analogous to the visual Müller-Lyer illusion. European Journal of Neuroscience, 54, 6512–6519. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.15459

51.

Wallace

(1984a). Creation of the horizontal–vertical illusion through imagery. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 22, 9–11. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333746

52.

Wallace

(1984b). Apparent equivalence between perception and imagery in the production of various visual illusions. Memory & Cognition, 12, 156–162. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198429

53.

Wang

Irwin

R. J.

Hautus

M. J.

(1998). Discriminability in length of lines in the Müller-Lyer figure. Perception & Psychophysics, 60, 511–517. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03206871

54.

Watters

R. G.

Scott

J. M.

(1989). Instructed human imagining behavior: Effectiveness for producing the Müller-Lyer illusion. Journal of Mental Imagery, 13, 153–160.

55.

Witkin

H. A.

Asch

S. E.

(1948a). Studies in space orientation. III. Perception of the upright in the absence of a visual field. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38, 603–614. http://doi.org/10.1037/h0055372

56.

Witkin

H. A.

Asch

S. E.

(1948b). Studies in space orientation. IV. Further experiments on perception of the upright with displaced visual fields. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38, 762–782. http://doi.org/10.1037/h0053671

57.

Witkin

H. A.

Goodenough

D. R.

(1981). Cognitive style: Essence and origins. Field dependence and field independence. International Universities Press.

58.

Zawadzki

Strelau

(2018). Formal characteristics of behavior: Temperament inventory. In Zeigler-Hill

Shackelford

T. K.

(Eds.), Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences (pp. 1–10). Springer.

59.

Zeman

Dewar

Della Sala

(2015). Lives without imagery - congenital aphantasia. Cortex, 73, 378–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2015.05.019

60.

Zeman

Milton

Della Sala

Dewar

Frayling

Gaddum

Hattersley

Heuerman-Williamson

Jones

MacKisack

Winlove

(2020). Phantasia-The psychological significance of lifelong visual imagery vividness extremes. Cortex, 130, 426–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2020.04.003

61.

Zhang

Liu

Wang

Huang

Wei

Zhang

Wang

Chen

(2017). Personality traits and perception of Müller-Lyer illusion in male Chinese military soldiers and university students. Translational Neuroscience, 8, 15–20. https://doi.org/10.1515/tnsci-2017-0004

62.

Zhao

Della Sala

Zeman

Gherri

(2022). Spatial transformation in mental rotation tasks in aphantasia. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 29, 2096–2107. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-022-02126-9.

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB