Experimental Observations of the Visibility Threshold of Illusory effects in Hermann Grid, Sinusoidal and Square Gratings and their Possible Implications

Kuntal Ghosh

doi:10.15226/2474-9249/2/1/00120

Abstract

Experimental Observations of the Visibility Threshold of Illusory effects in Hermann Grid, Sinusoidal and Square Gratings and their Possible Implications

Highlights

The visual system perceives the surroundings in its own complex way
In this work we have performed some experimental studies on brightness contrast illusions to find the absolute thresholds of perceptibility of the illusory effects
We have worked on Brightnesscontrast illusions which are considered very important because a complete understanding of these illusions can help us get an insight into the physiological mechanism of lateral inhibition and the cognitive mechanism of brightness perception in our brain

Summary

Introduction

The visual system perceives the surroundings in its own complex way. This complex structure of the visual system is sometimes exposed by its illusions [1]. According to Fechner, and the same was indicated even before him by Johann Friedrich Herbart (1776-1841), Absolute Threshold of any stimulus intensity is an important measurable quantity to judge any stimulus and objectify it’s perception in the brain This was the primary motivation behind the selection of ‘absolute threshold’ as the focus of this work. We have worked on Brightnesscontrast illusions which are considered very important because a complete understanding of these illusions can help us get an insight into the physiological mechanism of lateral inhibition and the cognitive mechanism of brightness perception in our brain In this particular work, we have taken two widely known brightness contrast illusions the Hermann grid illusion and the Grating induction, for experimentation. The results from our present study have been discussed individually with associated experiments and a section with assimilated discussions and results from all the experiments has been presented

General Methodology and Apparatus

Procedure

Findings

General Discussion and Inferences