Difference between revisions of "Jastrow illusion" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Psychology]]
 
[[Category:Psychology]]
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[[Category:Illusion]]
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[[Image:Jastrow illusion.svg|thumb|right|250px|Jastrow illusion: the two figures are identical.]]
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The '''Jastrow illusion''' is an [[optical illusion]] where two identical figures are placed next to each other. Although they are both exactly the same size, one appears to be larger.
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The study of perceptual [[illusion]]s like the Jastrow illusion helps scientists to investigate the various mechanisms involved in the visual [[perception]] of objects, and thus increases our understanding of how our minds function in informing us about the environment. This type of illusion also is reminds us that human nature has endless [[creativity]] and appreciation for novelty.
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==Discovery==
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The Jastrow illusion is named for the [[United States|American]] [[psychologist]] [[Joseph Jastrow]], who discovered the illusion in 1889. Jastrow is also well known for his "duck-rabbit" ambiguous figure in which the the object's identification switches back and forth from that of a [[duck]] to that of a [[rabbit]].
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==Description==
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The Jastrow illusion is a size [[illusion]] where two curved shapes of identical measurements are placed next to each other. When viewing the two shapes, one looks significantly larger than the other. When the positions of the two shapes are reversed, the impression of which is the larger is also reversed.
  
[[Image:Jastrow illusion.svg|thumb|right|250px|'''Jastrow illusion''']]
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==Explanation==
[[Image:Jastrow illusion revealed.svg|thumb|right|250px|The two figures are identical.]]
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Scientists are not yet certain what causes one figure in the Jastrow illusion to appear larger than the other. Similar effects have been noted by a number of researchers using a variety of geometric shapes, including [[trapezium|trapezia]], [[parallelogram]]s, and lozenges.<ref>J. O. Robinson, ''The Psychology of Visual Illusion'' (Dover Publications, 1998 ISBN 978-0486404493).</ref>
  
The '''Jastrow illusion''' is an [[optical illusion]] discovered by the American psychologist [[Joseph Jastrow]] in 1889. In this illustration, the two figures are identical, although the lower one appears to be larger.
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The fact that the shorter side of one figure is next to the longer side of the other somehow tricks the [[brain]] into perceiving one shape as longer and the other as shorter, although it is unclear exactly why this is so.
  
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==Applications==
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The study of perceptual [[illusion]]s like the Jastrow illusion helps scientists to investigate the various mechanisms involved in the visual [[perception]] of objects.
  
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Artists utilize the illusory effects, such as in Jastrow's illusion, to introduce complex and interesting effects in their works.
  
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==Notes==
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<references/>
  
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==References==
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* Gregson, Robert A. 1995. ''Cascades and Fields in Perceptual Psychophysics''. World Scientific Publishing Co. ISBN 9810223277
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* Robinson, J. O. 1998. ''The Psychology of Visual Illusion''. Dover Publications. ISBN 0486404498
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* Schiffman, Harvey Richard. 2001. ''Sensation and Perception: an Integrated Approach''. Wiley. ISBN 0471249300
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* Seckle, Al. 2000. ''The Art of Optical Illusions''. Carlton Books. ISBN 1842220543
  
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==External links==
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All links retrieved April 3, 2018.
  
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*[http://www.psy.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/machikae.html Illusions observed outdoors]
 
{{Credits|Jastrow_illusion|99487016|}}
 
{{Credits|Jastrow_illusion|99487016|}}

Latest revision as of 14:06, 3 April 2018

Jastrow illusion: the two figures are identical.

The Jastrow illusion is an optical illusion where two identical figures are placed next to each other. Although they are both exactly the same size, one appears to be larger.

The study of perceptual illusions like the Jastrow illusion helps scientists to investigate the various mechanisms involved in the visual perception of objects, and thus increases our understanding of how our minds function in informing us about the environment. This type of illusion also is reminds us that human nature has endless creativity and appreciation for novelty.

Discovery

The Jastrow illusion is named for the American psychologist Joseph Jastrow, who discovered the illusion in 1889. Jastrow is also well known for his "duck-rabbit" ambiguous figure in which the the object's identification switches back and forth from that of a duck to that of a rabbit.

Description

The Jastrow illusion is a size illusion where two curved shapes of identical measurements are placed next to each other. When viewing the two shapes, one looks significantly larger than the other. When the positions of the two shapes are reversed, the impression of which is the larger is also reversed.

Explanation

Scientists are not yet certain what causes one figure in the Jastrow illusion to appear larger than the other. Similar effects have been noted by a number of researchers using a variety of geometric shapes, including trapezia, parallelograms, and lozenges.[1]

The fact that the shorter side of one figure is next to the longer side of the other somehow tricks the brain into perceiving one shape as longer and the other as shorter, although it is unclear exactly why this is so.

Applications

The study of perceptual illusions like the Jastrow illusion helps scientists to investigate the various mechanisms involved in the visual perception of objects.

Artists utilize the illusory effects, such as in Jastrow's illusion, to introduce complex and interesting effects in their works.

Notes

  1. J. O. Robinson, The Psychology of Visual Illusion (Dover Publications, 1998 ISBN 978-0486404493).

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Gregson, Robert A. 1995. Cascades and Fields in Perceptual Psychophysics. World Scientific Publishing Co. ISBN 9810223277
  • Robinson, J. O. 1998. The Psychology of Visual Illusion. Dover Publications. ISBN 0486404498
  • Schiffman, Harvey Richard. 2001. Sensation and Perception: an Integrated Approach. Wiley. ISBN 0471249300
  • Seckle, Al. 2000. The Art of Optical Illusions. Carlton Books. ISBN 1842220543

External links

All links retrieved April 3, 2018.

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