Abstract
MANY geometric visual illusions have haptic analogues1. The most studied is the Müller–Lyer figure. Gregory2 has recently given strong evidence in support of a perspective theory of the visual variant. Day3 has argued in favour of a common explanation of both—a suggestion which would rule out the perspective theory, as the haptic variant has been demonstrated on congenitally blind subjects4. It seems that the simplest explanation of the Müller–Lyer haptic illusion has been ignored. This is the confusion theory5. Under this the illusion results from the mere confusion of the arrow-heads' apices with their fins.
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References
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WATSON, A., FRENCH, C. Müller–Lyer Haptic Illusion and a Confusion Theory Explanation. Nature 209, 942 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/209942a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/209942a0
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