Field Dependence, Efficiency of Information Processing in Working Memory and Susceptibility to Orientation Illusions among Architects

Abstract

This study examined cognitive predictors of susceptibility to orientation illusions: Poggendorff, Ponzo, and Zöllner. It was assumed that lower efficiency of information processing in WM and higher field dependence are conducive to orientation illusions. 61 architects (30 women) aged M = 29, +/- 1.6, and 49 university students (29 women) aged M = 23.53, +/- 4.24, were tested with Witkin’s EFT to assess their field dependence; the SWATT method was used as a measure of WM efficiency, and susceptibility to visual illusions was verified with a series of computer tasks. We obtained a small range of the explained variance in the regression models including FDI and WM indicators. On the basis of WM efficiency indicators, we managed to confirm the existence of memory predictors of susceptibility to illusions (they are rather weak, as they explain from 6% to 14% of the variance of the dependent variable). Among the architects, lower efficiency of WM processing (weaker inhibition, task-switching) and higher field dependence are responsible for greater susceptibility to orientation illusions.

A novel visual illusion paradigm provides evidence for a general factor of illusion sensitivity and personality correlates

“…Instead, existing studies typically use only one or a small subset of illusion types, with few contrasting conditions, restricting the findings’ generalizability 12 , 20 , 25 . Moreover, conventional paradigms often focus on the participants’ subjective experience, by asking them the extent to which they perceive two identical targets as different 26 , having them estimate the targets’ physical properties 27 , or through the method of adjustment, which involves having them adjust the targets to perceptually match a reference stimulus 16 , 28 – 30 . This reliance on meta-cognitive judgements about one’s subjective experience likely distorts the measurand, limiting the ability to reliably obtain more direct and objective measures of illusion sensitivity 31 .…”

“…Indeed, many visual illusions can be seen as being composed of targets (e.g., same-length lines), of which perception is biased by the context (e.g., in the Müller-Lyer illusion, the same-length line segments appear to have different lengths if they end with inwards vs. outwards pointing arrows). Past illusion studies traditionally employed paradigms focusing on participants’ subjective experience, by asking them the extent to which they perceive two identical targets as different 26 , or having them adjust the targets to match a reference stimulus relying only on their perception 16 , 28 . Alternatively, Pyllusion allows the creation of illusions in which the targets are objectively different (e.g., one segment is truly more or less longer than the other), and in which the illusion varies in strength (the biasing angle of the arrows is more or less acute).…”

The Illusion Game: A Novel Experimental Paradigm Provides Evidence for a General Factor of Visual Illusion Sensitivity and Personality Correlates

“…Indeed, many visual illusions can be seen as being composed of targets (e.g., same-length lines), of which perception is biased by the context (e.g., in the Müller-Lyer illusion, the same-length line segments appear to have different lengths if they end with inwards vs. outwards pointing arrows). Past illusion studies traditionally employed paradigms focusing on participants' subjective experience, by asking them the extent to which they perceive two identical targets as different (Lányi et al, 2022), or having them adjust the targets to match a reference stimulus relying only on their perception (Grzeczkowski et al, 2018;Mylniec & Bednarek, 2016). Alternatively, Pyllusion allows the creation of illusions in which the targets are objectively different (e.g., one segment is truly more or less longer than the other), and in which the illusion varies in strength (the biasing angle of the arrows is more or less acute).…”

“…Instead, existing studies typically use only one or a small subset of illusion types, with few contrasting conditions, restricting the findings' generalizability (Bressan & Kramer, 2021;Cretenoud et al, 2019;Cretenoud et al, 2020). Moreover, conventional paradigms often focus on the participants' subjective experience, by asking them the extent to which they perceive two identical targets as different (Lányi et al, 2022), having them estimate the targets' physical properties (Coren et al, 1976), or having them adjust the targets to perceptually match a reference stimulus (Grzeczkowski et al, 2018;Mylniec & Bednarek, 2016). This reliance on meta-cognitive judgements about one's subjective experience likely distorts the measurand, limiting the ability to reliably obtain more direct and objective measures of illusion sensitivity (Skottun & Skoyles, 2014).…”

Effectiveness of the ability to form mental images in Müller-Lyer optical illusions

“…Previous work has studied cognitive and temperamental factors that are susceptible to visual illusions (Mlyniec & Bednarek, 2016;Posner, 2012;Przedniczek & Bednarek, 2021;Witkin & Goodenough, 1981;Zawadzki & Strelau, 2018). An objectively consistent conclusion was that field-dependent subjects are more susceptible to visual illusions than field-independent subjects (Bednarek et al, 2022;Coren & Porac, 1987;Przedniczek & Bednarek, 2021;Witkin & Asch, 1948a, 1948b.…”