Some properties of the double-flash illusion

J Opt Soc Am A. 1987 Apr;4(4):746-55. doi: 10.1364/josaa.4.000746.

Abstract

When a field of light (an inducing field) is extinguished, and a subsequent probe pulse is presented (5-msec duration, interstimulus interval of 80-320 msec), the single probe pulse appears to be a double flash. We measured the frequency of seeing this double-flash illusion when it was induced by high-contrast flickering fields. The illusion is dependent on inducer-field frequency, showing a major peak and, for some interstimulus intervals, subpeaks. There are notable interobserver differences in the frequency location of the peaks. We evaluated whether the results represented the transient response of a mechanism analogous to a single-harmonic oscillator. A second experiment compares the threshold illuminance for detecting the probe pulse with the illuminance above threshold required to see the double-flash illusion. The illuminance required for a double-flash threshold is high, being 7-20 times the illuminance required for pulse detection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Afterimage
  • Differential Threshold
  • Humans
  • Illusions*
  • Male
  • Optical Illusions*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods*
  • Time Factors