The Ponzo illusion and the perception of orientation

Abstract

A new theory, called the tilt constancy theory, claims that the Ponzo illusion is caused by the misperception of orientation induced by local visual cues. The theory relates the Ponzo illusion-along with the Zöllner, Poggendorff, Wündt-Hering, and cafe wall illusions-to the mechanisms that enable us to perceive stable orientations despite changes in retinal orientation or body orientation. In Experiment 1, the magnitude of the misperception of orientation was compared with the magnitude of the Ponzo illusion. In Experiment 2, predictions of the tilt constancy theory were compared with accounts based on (1) low spatial frequencies in the image, (2) memory comparisons (pool-and-store model), and (3) relative size judgments. In Experiment 3, predictions of the tilt constancy theory were tested against predictions of the assimilation theory of Pressey and his colleagues. In the final experiment, the orientation account was compared with theories based on linear perspective and inappropriate size constancy. The results support the tilt constancy theory.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of a child with Alice in Wonderland syndrome during an episode of micropsia

“…This is particularly the case for the Ponzo illusion task, which, despite being a well-studied effect of visual perception, as reviewed and discussed by Prinzmetal and colleagues,30 does not have the history of use with fMRI that the reversing checkerboard task has. If the child with Alice in Wonderland syndrome had shown a global change in BOLD signal relative to the control participant, it might be argued that the results simply reflect individual differences in BOLD signal responsiveness.…”

Immediate susceptibility to visual illusions after sight onset

“…Results from cross-cultural studies have provided support to experience-based explanations [7]. Although alternative accounts have been suggested [8], there has thus far been no direct test of the necessity of visual experience for engendering susceptibility to these illusions.…”

Clashing interpretations of Ponzo’s illusion: reconsideration of assimilation versus tilt-constancy theories1

“…Predebon (1992Predebon ( , 1994, after extensive investigations of his own, concluded that assimilation theories provide the most satisfactory explanations of reversed Müller-Lyer illusions. Prinzmetal, et al (2001) list additional criticisms of assimilation theory but, because their critique refl ects an acute misunderstanding of the theory, a brief description of assimilation theory is necessary. Fig.…”