Abstract
It is argued that illusions cannot generally be investigated with criterion-independent methods. This limits the value of the data obtained from them. This is particularly important when the results are compared between groups of subjects, for example, between dyslexic readers and controls, since it is possible that the differences between the groups reflect differences with regard to criteria rather than real perceptual differences.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Random dot stereograms are not usually listed amongst the illusions. However, they have some important characteristics in common with illusions so it seems natural to characterize them as illusions. In the case of illusions, one sees something which is not in the stimuli. For instance, in the case of the Müller-Lyer illusion, one sees two lines as being of unequal length. This difference is not in the stimuli. In the case of random dots stereograms, one sees depth which is not in the stimuli.
References
Bradley, A., & Skottun, B. C. (1984). The effects of large orientation and spatial frequency differences on spatial discriminations. Vision Research, 24, 1889–1896.
Cestnick, L. (2001). Cross-modality temporal processing deficits in developmental phonological dyslexics. Brain and Cognition, 46, 319–325.
Cestnick, L., & Coltheart, M. (1999). The relationship between language-processing and visual-processing deficits in developmental dyslexia. Cognition, 71, 231–255.
Davis, C., Castles, A., McAnnaly, K., & Gray, J. (2001). Lapses of concentration and dyslexic performance on the Ternus task. Cognition, 81, B21–B31.
Green, D. M., & Swets, J. A. (1974). Signal detection theory and psychophysics. Huntington: Krieger.
Hari, R., & Kiesila, P. (1996). Deficit of temporal auditory processing in dyslexic adults. Neuroscience Letters, 205, 138–140.
Harwerth, R. S., & Rawlings, S. C. (1977). Viewing time and stereoscopic threshold with random-dot stereograms. American Journal of Optometry and Physiological Optics, 54, 452–457.
Hikosaka, O., Miyauchi, S., Shimojo, S. (1993). Focal visual attention produces illusory temporal order and motion sensation. Vision Research, 33, 1219–1240.
Kelly, D. H. (1966). Frequency doubling in visual responses. Journal of the Optical Society of America, 56, 1628–1633.
Kevan, A., & Pammer, K. (2008a). Making the link between dorsal stream sensitivity and reading. NeuroReport, 19, 467–470.
Kevan, A., & Pammer, K. (2008b). Visual deficits in pre-readers at familial risk for dyslexia. Vision Research, 48, 2835–2839.
Kevan, A., & Pammer, K. (2009). Predicting early reading skills from pre-reading measures of dorsal stream functioning. Neuropsychologia, 47, 3174–3181.
Lallier, M., Thierry, G., Tainturier, M.-J., Donnadieu, S., Peyrin, C., Billard, C., et al. (2009). Auditory and visual stream segregation in children and adults: An assessment of the amodality assumption of the ‘sluggish attentional shifting’ theory of dyslexia. Brain Research, 1302, 132–147.
Li, W., Meekins, K., & Schirillo, J. (2012). Magno and parvo stimuli affect illusory directional hearing in normal and dyslexic readers. Neuropsychologia, 50, 2068–2074.
Macmillan, N. A., & Creeman, C. D. (1991). Detection theory—a user’s guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mitchell, P., Mottron, L., Soulieres, I., & Ropar, D. (2010). Susceptibility to the Shepard illusion in participants with autism: Reduced top–down influences within perception? Autism Research, 3, 113–119.
Pammer, K., Connell, E., & Kevan, A. (2010). Spelling and reading: Using visual sensitivity to explore shared or separate orthographic representations. Perception, 39, 387–406.
Pammer, K., & Lovegrove, W. (2001). The influence of color on transient system activity: Implications for dyslexia research. Perception & Psychophysics, 63, 490–500.
Pammer, K., & Wheatley, C. (2001). Isolating the M(y)-cell response in dyslexia using the spatial frequency doubling illusion. Vision Research, 41, 2139–2147.
Sanders, L. L. O., de Millas, W., Heinz, A., Kathmann, N., & Sterzer, P. (2012). Apparent motion perception in patients with paranoid schizophrenia. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience,. doi:10.1007/s00406-012-0344-5.
Skottun, B. C. (2001). On the use of the Ternus test to assess magnocellular function. Perception, 30, 1449–1457.
Skottun, B. C. (2011). Amplitude spectra of line-motion stimuli. Perception, 40, 656–673.
Skottun, B. C., & Skoyles, J. R. (2006). Attention, dyslexia, and the line-motion illusion. Optometry and Vision Science, 83, 843–849.
Skottun, B. C., & Skoyles, J. R. (2011). The frequency doubling illusion and testing of magnocellular sensitivity. Neuro-Ophthalmology, 35, 251–254.
Slaghuis, W. L., & Ryan, J. F. (1999). Spatio-temporal contrast sensitivity, coherent motion, and visible persistence in developmental dyslexia. Vision Research, 39, 651–668.
Slaghuis, W. L., Twell, A. J., & Kingston, K. R. (1996). Visual and language processing disorders are concurrent in dyslexia and continue into adulthood. Cortex, 32, 413–438.
Steinman, S. B., Steinman, B. A., & Garzia, R. P. (1998). Vision and attention. II: Is visual attention a mechanism through which a deficient magnocellular pathway might cause reading disability? Optometry and Vision Science, 75, 674–681.
Swets, J. A., Tanner, W. P., & Birdsall, T. G. (1964). Decision processes in perception. In J. A. Swets (Ed.), Signal detection and recognition by human observers (pp. 3–57). New York: Wiley.
Ternus, J. (1926). Experimentelle Untersuchungen uber phanomenale Identitat. Psychologishe Forschung, 7, 81–135. (English translation: (1938). The problem of phenomenal identity. In: Ellis, W.D., (Ed.), A source book of gestalt psychology (pp. 149–160) London: Routledge Kegan Paul.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Skottun, B.C., Skoyles, J.R. Subjective criteria and illusions in visual testing: some methodological limitations. Psychological Research 78, 136–140 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-013-0482-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-013-0482-z