Formation of illusory 3-D surface by eccentric rotation of dot pattern

The stereo-kinetic phenomenon reported by Zanforlin, Vallortigara, and Agostini (1991) was observed under the condition of stroboscopic movement. On the CRT display, multiple eccentric circles, drawn by either line pattern or random dot pattern, were rotated. Observing these stimulus figures, the subjects reported the stereo-kinetic effect, namely they perceived clearly the solid cones rotating in depth. The subjects then were asked to judge the height of the perceived stereo-kinetic cones. The results showed that, despite the difference in pattern components, line or dot, the perceived stereo-kinetic cones were very similar in the appearance of their heights. However, the results revealed that the values of the apparent height did not accord with the formula proposed by Zanforlin et al. The findings in the present study were discussed in terms of a quantitative form of “structure from motion”

Astrophysics · Classical mechanics · Cognitive psychology · Geometry · Kinetic energy · Optics · Physics · Stereopsis · Stimulus (psychology) · Advanced Optical Imaging Technologies · Mathematics · Psychology · Tactile and Sensory Interactions · Visual perception and processing mechanisms