Autokinesis Research Articles

Laterality, hypnosis, and the autokinetic effect.

Abstract Studies of the relationship of hemispheric dominance to hypnotic susceptibility suggest a connection may exist between hypnosis and the nondominant hemisphere. In this experiment changes in lateral brain functioning were studied by means of the autokinetic effect. Scores for the proportion of perceived autokinetic movement to the left, assumed to reflect right hemisphere activation, were significantly greater for hypnotized, as opposed to nonhypnotized, undergraduate subjects. It is reasonable to assume there is a relationship between laterality and the autokinetic effect. Should this assumption receive further, independent support, our results would give support to the hypothesis that hypnosis involves greater activation of the right hemisphere for most subjects. The experiment also suggests that hypnosis may involve a cognitive change of state, and that hypnotic phenomena cannot be explained entirely in terms of motivational variables.

Sex Differences in the Perception of Autokinetic Movement of an afterimage

The effects of stimulus color and gender upon the perception of an afterimage were examined. The Ss were 32 male and 32 female college undergraduate volunteers. Eight Ss of each gender viewed a pinpoint flash of light through one of four filters: blue-green (Wratten 44A), red (Wratten 92), yellow (Wratten 9), or a neutral (Wratten 96) filter. Each S was given three trials, and on each trial, the duration of the afterimage was recorded, along with changes of direction, and changes in perceived color. Males reported significantly (p less than .05) more autokinetic movement of the afterimage. The color of the stimulus affected afterimage duration differentially for the two genders (p less than .05), and there was also a significant interaction (p less than .02) of gender with filter color for the total number of color changes reported. Thus, it is likely that both outflow monitoring and error signal variables in the autokinetic effect may be affected by gender, and the two sexes may also have different retinal and/or central processing of visual information.

Sound, affect, and visual autokinesis.

Sound and the absence of sound were used during the adaptation period of a conventional experiment on autokinetic effect conducted in anechoic and reverberation rooms of equal size. Only the room condition led to significantly different results: more visual autokinesis in the reverberation room. The data are discussed in light of the results of an earlier, similar experiment where the reverberation room yielded less visual autokinesis. It is suggested that affect rather than sound influenced the autokinetic phenomenon.

An inexpensive unit for demonstrations of the phi and autokinetic phenomena.

This paper describes a small apparatus for demonstrating the phi phenomenon and the autokinetic effect and provides circuit diagrams whereby the apparatus may be constructed.

Sex of the experimenter as a variable in the autokinetic illusion

Twenty-two female undergraduate students were tested for agreement with an experimenter’s suggested direction of movement in an autokinetic illusion experiment. Half of the subjects received the suggestion from a female experimenter and half from a male experimenter. Significantly more subjects responded affirmatively to the female experimenter’s suggestion than to the male’s (p <.005).

Necker Cube and Autokinetic Illusions after Awakening from Rem and Nonrem Sleep: Lack of Effect

Earlier studies demonstrated differential perceptions of the visual illusions, beta movements and spiral aftereffect, following awakening from REM and NONREM sleep. The present study tested the effects of awakening from the two phases of sleep on two additional visual illusions, the Necker cube and autokinetic illusions. 12 young adults were wakened from REM and NONREM sleep and tested on both illusions for three 1-min. trials, within 1 to 2 min. of the awakening. Comparison of the post-REM and post-NONREM illusions indicated a nonsignificant difference between the two waking conditions in the passive spontaneous reversal rates of the Necker cube. Data for the autokinetic illusion were not reported as they were unreliable.

Power Function between Duration of Friendly Interaction and Conformity in Perception and Judgments

Undergraduate students (24 male, 24 female) participated in an experiment employing the autokinetic illusion to investigate the effects of durations of friendly interactions on conformity. Subjects of each sex were randomly assigned to four treatment conditions: no confederate, 0-sec., 42-sec., and 420-sec. friendly interaction periods. The dependent measure was the difference in inches or fractions of an inch between subjects' and confederate's estimates. It was predicted that the 420-sec. treatment condition would produce a smaller difference in inches than either the 0- or 42-sec. condition. Results showed a significant effect of durations of friendly interaction on conformity. It was concluded that friendly interaction was a factor in determining conformity involving perception and judgment and could serve as a model for obtaining power function relationships using other social variables.

Influence of Recall on Reliability of Perception of the Autokinetic Illusion

An autokinetic test was given to 76 females subjects who were then randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups of 19 subjects each. Two groups were retested after 1 and 6 wk., respectively. The other two groups were asked to recall their initial experience after 1 and 6 wk., respectively. Intertrial correlations of the measures were generally higher for the recall conditions than for the retest conditions. The results were discussed in terms of the potential influence that recall may have on the test-retest reliability of autokinesis.

The position of random autokinetic movement and the physiological position of rest are frequently stable and identical

Both the autokinetic illusion (AKI) and involuntary eye movements when a fixation point goes off have been attributed to unmonitored drift eye movements which result from constant features of the oculomotor system. Pilot studies confirmed that the visual directions where these effects had no directional bias, the position of random autokinetic movement (PRAKM) and the physiological position of rest (PPR), were highly correlated and reliable. The more precise main experiment showed that they were usually, but not always, stable and identical. Drifts are therefore not totally due to stable features of the oculomotor system but are a compound of several slow responses which can differ with both stimulus conditions and time. They are not all equally unmonitored.

Autokinetic effect and aging.

Autokinetic effect and aging.

Autokinesis, schizokinesis, centrokinesis and organ-system responsibility: concepts and definition

Autokinesis, schizokinesis, centrokinesis and organ-system responsibility: concepts and definition

The stimulation-seeking motive: Relationship to apparent visual movement

It was hypothesized that extent and complexity of perceived autokinetic movement would be a significant function of individual differences in arousal seeking or the need for stimulation. Three scores-extension, rotation, and complexity-were derived from the auto kinesis protocols of 31 Ss. Individual differences in stimulation seeking were measured by the sensation-seeking scale. No significant relationships of stimulation seeking and autokinetic parameters were obtained.

Perceptual differences between hippies and college students.

Summary Perceptual differences were investigated between 50 college students who were non-drug users and 50 hippies who used LSD. The groups were matched for race, sex, and age. No significant differences were found between intelligence and social class. The seven perceptual tests used were Color-Form Attention Test, Judgment of Sounds, Autokinetic Effect, Six-Inch Estimation, Rod and Frame Test, Estimation of Head Width, and Perceptual Acuity Test. The first hypothesis was that hippies would respond to the perceptual measures in a developmentally more primitive or childlike fashion than the college students. The second hypothesis was that hippies who reported mostly bad drug trips would be more like college students than the hippies who reported good drug trips. The results support part of the first hypothesis in that hippies performed significantly differently from college students in the predicted direction on the Color-Form Attention, Judgment of Sounds, and Autokinetic Effect Tests only. No significant differences were found between hippies reporting good vs. bad drug trips. These findings are discussed in relation to perceptual style and theory.

Autokinesis for meaningful stimuli and the effect of set.

An autokinetic effect for 6 meaningful stimuli was measured in terms of speed, acceleration, and change in direction and as a function of stimulus labels suggesting sets for fast, neutral, or slow movement. Apparent movement was found for all stimuli on each of the three types of movement measures; the change-in-direction measure significantly differentiated the six stimuli; and the fast set of labels significantly influenced accelerations. A frame of reference conception of the perception of apparent movement, based on familiarity and expectation, which is likely to occur under ambiguous stimulus circumstances, was discussed.

Aspects of inner experience: autokinesis, daydreaming, dream recall and cognitive style.

Voth and Mayman have reported two pervasive styles of relating to the external environment which are best measured by the autokinetic effect, and have related autokinesis to broad aspects of inner life. The concern of this study is whether autokinetic perception is a meaningful measure of inner experience and how it relates to daydreaming, dream recall, and psychological differentiation. Patterns of inner experience are sought. Results show little correlational support for the hypothesized relatedness of autokinesis with diverse aspects of inner experience. Factor analysis yields an autokinetic factor independent of the other measures. Styles of daydreaming reported by Singer and Antrobus are replicated and some qualitative similarities are noted between waking and sleeping fantasy lives.

Auditory autokinesis as a function of intramodal fields.

Auditory autokinesis as a function of intramodal fields.

Some unobtrusive measures of authoritarianism.

Previous research (2 , 3 ) suggested some unobtrusive correlates with authoritarianism as measured by the California F scale ( 1 ) . In these studies high and low scores on the E and F scales were related to social influence in the autokinetic setting. Although no data were recorded, informal observation suggested that low authoritarian Ss seemed to have longer hair, showed a distinctive preference for liberal magazines, and were less obedient as Ss. The purpose of this investigation was to determine empirically if length of hair, choice of reading material, and obedience to instructions were indeed unobtrusive correlates with authoritarianism. Six weeks prior to the experiment, 300 students were administered Form 45-40 of the California F scale. On the basis of scores obtained on this scale 50 high and 50 low male authoritarian Ss were selected. Behavioral measures relating to authoritarianism were obtained in a waiting period before a bogus experiment on visual perception (i.e., autokinetic effect). Upon arrival for the perception experiment, Ss were ushered into a waiting room adjacent to an autokinetic laboratory and given instructions to read about the perception After S read the instructions E said, You can read or do anything you want until it is your turn to be in the experiment. E then looked at notes or a book so that S would not talk ro him. Length of hair was judged to be long if it was growing over Ss' ears and short if it was not. Choice of reading material was determined by having T i m e (an establishment news magazine) and Lampoon (an unorthodox, anti-establishment humor magazine) placed on a table directly in front of Ss and recording the magazine first selected. Prior to the experiment Ss were given a mimeographed map that described the location of the laboratory and the time and date for which S was scheduled. Also typed on the map in capital letters was the statement, DO NOT LOSE THIS SLIP OF PAPER. Obedience to instructions was measured by the number of maps returned by high and low F Ss. So as to not arouse suspicion, E made no mention of the map unless S voluntarily asked if E would like the map returned. If S asked this question E said, Yes, thank you, and accepted it. Following the waiting room period (usually less than 5 min.) Ss participated for another 20 min. in an autokinetic Of 50 low-F Ss 31 and of 50 high-F Ss 10 had hair growing over their ears ( x 2 = 16.87, df = 1, p < .005 ) . In choosing T i m e vs Lampoon, 5 low-F and 12 high-F Ss did not read anything (X2 = 3.47, d f = 1, P < . l o ) . Of Ss selecting a magazine, 31 out of 45 low-F Ss and 23 out of 38 high-F Ss selected Lampoon over T i m e ( x Z = .63, df = 1, f i < .50). The obedience measure was whether S asked E if he wanted his map returned. Of 50 low-F Ss 15 and of 50 high-F Ss 28 asked this question ( x 2 = 6.63, df = 1, P < .?I) . Results suggest that length of hair and obedience as measured here reflected unobtrusive correlates of authoritarianism. Preferences for Lampoon over T i m e were unrelated to authoritarianism.

Autokinesis and attention distribution: rejoinder to Starker.

On the basis of two studies, one published in this issue (4 ) and the other unpublished, Starker expresses doubt as to the validity of our beliefs regarding the part attention plays in the propensity for experiencing autokinesis, and the relationship of autokinesis to some aspects of personality organization. In his unpublished study it appears that he used questionnaire data as a measure of S's personality qualities. Since such data are highly subjective (people tend not to see themselves as others see them), it does not surprise me that he could not duplicate our findings. There are difficulties with the present study which require comment. There appears to be a misunderstanding of our theoretical model and there are some methodological weaknesses. Starker believes he has gotten his Ss to withdraw attention from the light and direct it inwardly. If S is really thinking about something else-unrelated to the light-it is probable that autokinesis might cease or be reduced, not increased as he predicted (his Group A ) . Paying closer attention to the light, thus taking attention away from the spatial frame of reference should increase autokinesis, not decrease it as Starker predicted (his Group C) . He has omitted any reference to the frame of references in his design. Asking Ss continuously to generate phantasies about the light would be a better test of our theoretical model (3 ) than having them think about something unrelated to the light. The test conditions for Group C are a good test of our model provided S does not also concentrate (unknowingly) on the test room (frame of reference) as he concentrates on the test light. Combining Condition C with a condition wherein S is asked to produce phantasies about the light would best test our model. Starker correctly notes the possible difficulty inherent in his condition of internal rehearsal. His idea that distracting auditory stimuli should reduce autokinesis is consistent with our theoretical model. He must be certain that Ss pay attention to the distracting stimuli throughout the test period. We have observed that high movers may remain oblivious to very loud noises outside the test room apparently because of the degree to which they are absorbed by test experience. I suggest using moderate movers in the experimental and control groups. For very high movers the autokinetic effect is powerful, and such persons also have a remarkable ability to ignore distractions. Very low movers are in reality no movers most of the test period and unless the distracting stimulus is continuous, the distracting event may not coincide with the experience of autokinesis. Starker's use of a difference score as the dependent variable (change), makes it difficult to guess what the results would have been had a more appropriate score (or analysis) been used ( 2 ) . Regression effects make a difference score questionable as a measure of change and are particularly likely to occur in groups selected for their extremity as in this experiment ( 1 ). In addition, when Ss cannot be randomly assigned to the (High-Low AK)-(Experimental Condition) treatment combinations, a split-plot analysis is more appropriate than a factorial design.

Autokinetic illusion: a systematic review of theories, measures, and independent variables.

Autokinetic illusion: a systematic review of theories, measures, and independent variables.

Artists, architects, and engineers--three contrasting modes of visual experience and their psychological correlates.

SummaryOver a period of five years, 31 architects, 28 artists, and 26 engineers, a total of 85 outstanding individuals in their respective fields, were studied intensively with a psychological test battery consisting of the Holtzman Inkblot Technique, Time Estimation measures, the Stroop Color‐Word Test, the Embedded Figures Test, the Autokinetic Effect, Byrne's Repression‐Sensitization Inventory, the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, and the Welsh Figure Preference Test. Each subject in the study was chosen by a panel of faculty members as the most outstanding advanced students in nonrepresentational abstract art, architecture, and engineering drawing Highly significant differences were found between the three groups for a number of variables that had been predicted on the basis of previous research and theoretical considerations. These results served to validate the meaning of the perception variables while also giving additional insight into the differences between these three contrasting modes of visual experience as exemplified by the three occupational groups