Observer pitch and roll influence: the rod and frame illusion

Psychon Bull Rev. 2006 Feb;13(1):160-5. doi: 10.3758/bf03193828.

Abstract

Observers misperceive the orientation of a vertical rod when it is viewed in the context of a tilted frame (the rod and frame illusion, or RFI). The pitch and roll of the surrounding surfaces have independent influences on this illusion (Nelson and Prinzmetal, 2003). Experiment 1 measured the RFI when the pitch and roll of the floor that supported the observer was varied, and the observer was either seated in a chair or standing upright. There were additive influences of pitch and roll on the RFI of seated but not standing observers. Experiments 2 and 3 decoupled body roll and head roll in order to isolate the vestibular and proprioceptive contributions to these effects. The results are interpreted in support of a hierarchy of influence on the RFI: Visual input is given top priority, followed by vestibular input, and then proprioceptive input.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Discrimination Learning*
  • Female
  • Field Dependence-Independence*
  • Humans
  • Kinesthesis*
  • Male
  • Optical Illusions*
  • Orientation*
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Postural Balance
  • Proprioception
  • Psychophysics