Zollner illusion

[ tsuhl-ner; German tsœl-nuhr ]

noun

, Psychology.

1. a spatial illusion in which parallel lines intersected by short oblique lines are perceived as converging or diverging.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Zollner illusion¹

1950–55; named after J. K. F. Zöllner, 19th-century German physicist

Example Sentences

Another step toward the Zöllner illusion 84 45.

From Project Gutenberg

Hering explained the Zöllner illusion as due to the curvature of the retina, and the resulting difference in the retinal images, and held that acute angles appear relatively too large and obtuse ones too small.

From Project Gutenberg

This Zöllner illusion is very striking and may be constructed in a variety of forms.

From Project Gutenberg