Three-Dimensional Müller-Lyer Illusion

Abstract

Since its introduction in 1889, the Müller-Lyer illusion has incited numerous studies and explanations. Most rely on two-dimensional stimuli such as line drawings, subject to the criticism that illusions are restricted to impoverished, artificial stimuli and have little relevance to understanding of ordinary perception. The three-dimensional Müller-Lyer illusion occurs with familiar solid objects and moving observers and has been used to evaluate misapplied constancy theories, perception–action dissociations, and level of processing. The occurrence of illusions in real-world contexts, and in two-dimensional displays upon which people rely increasingly, makes them essential to understand and predict. The three-dimensional Müller-Lyer illusion has significant theoretical and practical implications and continues to be an important concern for visual science.