Mishaps, errors, and cognitive experiences: on the conceptualization of perceptual illusions

ZAVAGNO, Daniele, DANEYKO, Olga and ACTIS-GROSSO, Rossana (2015). Mishaps, errors, and cognitive experiences: on the conceptualization of perceptual illusions. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9 (190).

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Official URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum...
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00190

Abstract

Although a visual illusion is often viewed as an amusing trick, for the vision scientist it is a question that demands an answer, which leads to even more questioning. All researchers hold their own chain of questions, the links of which depend on the very theory they adhere to. Perceptual theories are devoted to answering questions concerning sensation and perception, but in doing so they shape concepts such as reality and representation, which necessarily affect the concept of illusion. Here we consider the macroscopic aspects of such concepts in vision sciences from three classic viewpoints—Ecological, Cognitive, Gestalt approaches—as we see this a starting point to understand in which terms illusions can become a tool in the hand of the neuroscientist. In fact, illusions can be effective tools in studying the brain in reference to perception and also to cognition in a much broader sense. A theoretical debate is, however, mandatory, in particular with regards to concepts such as veridicality and representation. Whether a perceptual outcome is considered as veridical or illusory (and, consequently, whether a class of phenomena should be classified as perceptual illusions or not) depends on the meaning of such concepts.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: perceptual illusions, gestalt theory, cognitivism, ecological approach, veridicality, reality, perceptual theories
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Cultural Communication and Computing Research Institute > Art and Design Research Centre
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities > Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00190
Depositing User: Olga Daneyko
Date Deposited: 10 Jan 2018 13:35
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 07:18
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16749

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