The Müller-Lyer illusion seen by the brain: an event-related brain potentials study.
In two experiments, event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to examine the neural correlates of a visual illusion effect in Müller-Lyer illusion tasks (illusion stimuli) and baseline tasks (no-illusion stimuli). The behavioral data showed that the illusion stimuli indeed yielded an illusion effect. Scalp ERP analysis revealed its neurophysiological substrate: the Müller-Lyer illusion tasks (Illusion tasks 1-3) elicited a more negative ERP deflection than did the baseline tasks about 400 ms after onset of the stimuli. Dipole source analysis of the difference wave (Illusion task 2-Baseline task 1) and the original waveforms of the different conditions (Illusion tasks 2 and 3 and Baseline task 2) indicated that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)/superior frontal cortex may contribute to the illusion effect, possibly in relation to high-level cognitive control. The results indicated that apparent distortions of the Müller-Lyer illusion might be influenced by top-down control.
Qiu
Jiang
J
Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China. qiuj318@swu.edu.cn
Li
Hong
H
Zhang
Qinglin
Q
Liu
Qiang
Q
Zhang
Fenghua
F
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009903:Optical Illusions / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology