The Effects Of Colors On Horizontal Parallel Lines Illusion: An Eye Movement Study

Horizontal parallel lines illusion is a new illusion. The current research used experiments to investigate the effects of colors on horizontal parallel lines illusion. In addition, we used eye movement technique to explore the oculomotor mechanism of horizontal parallel lines illusion and what was the mechanism like when colors had influence on horizontal parallel lines illusion.The current research consisted of two studies and three experiments. Study one was a behavioral study about the effects of colors on horizontal parallel lines illusion. Study one consisted of two experiments. Experiment one was a qualitative research to explore whether there were effects of colors on horizontal parallel lines illusion or not; Experiment two was a quantitative research to measure the illusive degree of horizontal parallel lines illusion when colors had influence on it, by the method of constant stimuli. Study two consisted of one experiment based on study one, we extended the behavioral research to eye movement research. We used eye movement technique to explore the oculomotor mechanism of horizontal parallel lines illusion and what was the mechanism like when colors had influence on horizontal parallel lines illusion, by analyzing numbers of fixation and fixation duration. The results showed: 1) There were effects of colors on horizontal parallel lines illusion; 2) When the upward parallel had different color from the downward parallel, the illusive degree decreased with the decrease in wavelengths. When the colors of two parallels were red and black, respectively, the illusive degree was-1.44%; When the colors were green and black, respectively, the illusive degree was-1.11%; When the colors were blue and black, respectively, the illusive degree was-0.4%; 3) When the upward parallel had the same color with the downward parallel, there was no significant effect of colors on horizontal parallel lines illusion. When the colors were both blue, the illusive degree was-1.66%; When the colors were both black, the illusive degree was-1.56%; When the colors were both red, the illusive degree was-1.52%; When the colors were both green, the illusive degree was-1.46%; 4) The oculomotor mechanism of horizontal parallel lines illusion was that subjects usually put more attention resources on upward line, namely more attention resources, more perceived lengths. When colors had influence on horizontal parallel lines illusion, the oculomotor mechanism showed: compared to blue and black, respectively, when the color of lines were both blue, subjects put more attention resources on upward line, and more attention resource, large illusive degree. Therefore, the illusive degree of blue and blue was larger than blue and black.The current research investigated the effects of colors on horizontal parallel lines illusion, and based on that, we explored the oculomotor mechanism of horizontal parallel lines illusion and what was the mechanism like when colors had influence on horizontal parallel lines illusion. Theoretically, our results are benefit to understand the perception laws and characteristics of horizontal parallel lines illusion and to further understand basic laws and characteristics of human visual processing. From the design of user interfaces, our results are benefit to the optimal design of the perception, like perception of lines, on human machine interface and to improve users’ perception effects, therefore users can achieve better operation performance on special cognition.