title: A case of quasi-infinite visual acuity and illusory size.
abstract: In certain real-life situations, moiré patterns can enhance the observer's ability to resolve fine spatial detail of solid structures, theoretically to unlimited degrees. An example of such a situation can be seen in traffic signs on the M25 motorway around London. Moreover, owing to the interferential nature of the moiré pattern, its angular physical size is independent of observer distance, and thus creates an apparent size discrepancy: the closer you get, the smaller the size of the pattern appears to be-an illusory situation resembling Michael Ende's tale of the pseudo-giant Mr Tur Tur.
authors: Department of Animal Physiology and Zoology, RWTH Aachen, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Strasse 15, 52056 Aachen, Germany. wolf@bio2.rwth-aachen.de
authors: Wolf M
authors: WM
authors: Harmening
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009903:Optical Illusions / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011601:Psychophysics; D012858:Size Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*