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Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior
Published on: April 16, 2014
Afterimages and the breathing light illusion
Stuart Anstis1, Simone Gori, Christian Wehrhahn
1Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0109, USA. sanstis@ucsd.edu
Perception
|July 13, 2007
Summary
Visual illusions experienced when fixating blurred disks during head movements are interpreted as afterimages. This study supports this by presenting examples of eccentric, colored, and striped afterimages.
Area of Science:
- Visual perception
- Psychophysics
Background:
- Visual illusions can arise from specific viewing conditions.
- Afterimages are visual phenomena that persist after stimulus removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To interpret visual illusions reported by Gori and Stubbs (2006) as afterimages.
- To provide supporting evidence for the afterimage interpretation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of visual illusions elicited by fixating blurred disks.
- Observation of head movements towards and away from the disks.
- Documentation of eccentric, colored, and striped afterimages.
Main Results:
- The described visual illusions are consistent with the characteristics of afterimages.
- Examples of eccentric, colored, and striped afterimages were observed and documented.
Conclusions:
- The visual illusions reported are best explained as afterimages.
- The findings support the hypothesis that specific head movements with blurred stimuli can elicit afterimages.
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