[Superillusions (a new category of visual illusions)].

Abstract

The author describes special type of visual illusion, specific to man, which he calls "super-illusion". It results from an erroneous decoding of a true visual perception, which in the observer's eye is in itself expected to be an illusory distortion of reality. The attached drawings (Fig. 1, 2, 3) illustrate the discussed forms of visual perception, and its possible distortion. Fig. 1: Undistorted, normal visual perception. Appropriate interpretation of a visual signal. A leaf is seen as a leaf. Fig. 2: "Appropriate" visual perception and interpretation of the defense mechanism called crypsis. Crypsis here serves its original purpose--visual illusion. Anaea butterfly, a leaf mimic, is perceived as a leaf. Fig. 3: "Inappropriate" interpretation of undistorted visual signal. Anticipation of crypsis, which is not present. A leaf is perceived as a leaf mimicking butterfly. This phenomenon, called "super-illusion" (anticipatory visual illusion) is common in entomologists--lepitopterists.

• Authors: G O Krizek
• Journal: Ceskoslovenska psychiatrie (Cesk Psychiatr) Vol. 85 Issue 5 Pg. 334-9 (Oct 1989) ISSN: 0069-2336 [Print] Czech Republic
• Vernacular Title: Superiluze (nová kategorie zrakových iluzí).
• PMID: 2624972 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Diagnostic Errors
• Humans
• Illusions
• Mental Processes