Tilt After-Effect (TAE): An Overview
The tilt after-effect (TAE) is a perceptual phenomenon that occurs when a person views a tilted object and then perceives a subsequently presented upright object as tilted in the opposite direction. This effect has been studied since the mid-1900s, with a resurgence of interest in recent years. This article provides an overview of the TAE, describing its history, the conditions that lead to its occurrence, and its potential applications.
History
The tilt after-effect was first described by F.C. Bartlett in 1918. Bartlett observed that when subjects were presented with a tilted figure and then asked to adjust a subsequently presented figure to make it appear upright, they instead tilted the figure in the opposite direction. This phenomenon was later referred to as the tilt after-effect. Since then, researchers have conducted numerous studies to further investigate the TAE and understand its underlying mechanisms.
Conditions
The tilt after-effect is observed when a person is exposed to a tilted stimulus and then presented with an upright stimulus. The magnitude of the effect is determined by the extent to which the original stimulus was tilted, as well as by the amount of time that elapses between the presentation of the two stimuli. Additionally, the effect is typically stronger when the stimuli are of the same shape, size, and orientation.
Applications
The tilt after-effect can be used to study aspects of visual perception, such as adaptation, constancy, and illusions. Additionally, it has potential applications in the development of robotic vision systems and the design of virtual reality environments.
Conclusion
The tilt after-effect is an interesting and well-studied perceptual phenomenon. It occurs when a person is presented with a tilted stimulus and then perceives a subsequently presented upright stimulus as tilted in the opposite direction. The magnitude of the effect is determined by the extent to which the original stimulus was tilted, as well as by the amount of time that elapses between the presentation of the two stimuli. The TAE has potential applications in the study of visual perception as well as in the design of robotic vision systems and virtual reality environments.
References
Bartlett, F.C. (1918). The psychology of perception. London: MacMillan.
Kontsevich, L.L., & Tyler, C.W. (1999). Tilt aftereffect: Mechanisms and models. Vision Research, 39, 3373-3391.
Lappin, J.S., & Enns, J.T. (2005). The tilt aftereffect: A review. Perception and Psychophysics, 67, 541-570.
Von der Heydt, R., & Peterhans, E. (1989). Mechanisms of contour perception in monkey visual cortex. Science, 244 (4904), 563-566.
Watt, S.J., & Morgan, M.J. (1998). Tilt aftereffects are modulated by the orientation of the inducing stimulus. Vision Research, 38, 391-396.