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On the subject of perceptual illusions, and the ambiguity of perceptual information

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2005

Arve Vorland Pedersen*
Affiliation:
Department of Physiotherapy, Sør-Trøndelag University College, N-7004Trondheim, Norway
Hermundur Sigmundsson*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491Trondheim, Norwayhttp://www.svt.ntnu.no/iss/hermundur.sigmundsson/

Abstract:

Stoffregen & Bardy (S&B) make the point that the statement “I am moving” made by subjects in a “swinging room” cannot be explained as an illusion of motion, and there is thus no perceptual illusion. In this they are correct. There is in fact motion, but of the environment. We argue that the subjects misinterpret this because the information to the visual system is ambiguous and also deceiving.

Type
Continuing Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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Footnotes

Commentary onT. A. Stoffregen & B. G. Bardy (2001). On specification and the senses. BBS 24(2):195–261.