Abstract
Four groups of Ss were tested on the Poggendorff illusion in which the angle of the oblique line varied from 20 to 30 deg. One group was asked to project an objective oblique line, and the remaining three groups were asked to project an imagined oblique which, in some cases, had to be subjectively rotated. There was no evidence that imagining the oblique line produced a smaller illusion than the condition in which the oblique line was objectively present. These results contradict theories of illusions which state that distortions are retinal in origin but are compatible with judgmental theories such as the assimilation theory of illusions.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Blakemore, C., Carpenter, R. H., & Georgeson, M. A. Lateral inhibition between orientation detectors in the human visual system. Nature, 1970, 228, 37–39.
Burns, D. B., & Pritchard, R. Geometrical illusions and the responses of neurones in the cat’s visual cortex to angle patterns. Journal of Physiology, 1971, 213, 599–616.
Chiang, C. A new theory to explain geometrical illusions produced by crossing lines. Perception & Psychophysics, 1968, 3, 174–176.
Ganz, L. Mechanisms of figural after-effects. Psychological Review, 1966, 73, 128–150.
Pressey, A. W. An extension of assimilation theory to illusions of size, area, and direction. Perception & Psychophysics, 1971, 9, 172–176.
Pressey, A. W., & Sweeney, O. Some puzzling results on the Poggendorff illusion. Perception & Psychophysics, 1972, 12, 433–437.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by the National Research Council of Canada (AO-177). This paper is sponsored by John P. Zubek, who takes full editorial responsibility for its contents.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pressey, A.W., Wilson, A.E. The Poggendorff illusion in imagination. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 3, 447–449 (1974). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333523
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333523