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Cats and Illusory Motion
Cognitive Science, Department of Philosophy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Institute for Advanced Study, Faculty of Design, Research Center for Applied Perceptual Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
Department of Psychology, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan
- 1 Cognitive Science, Department of Philosophy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- 2 Institute for Advanced Study, Faculty of Design, Research Center for Applied Perceptual Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
- 3 Department of Psychology, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan
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Abstract
We present the first evidence that cats experience visual illusions and that a non-human animal can see illusory motion. In three videos we show cats reacting with hunting behavior when watching the Rotating Snakes illusion. This is taken to mean that cats see illusory motion in this image due to the propensity of cats to pursue movement. This is further supported by a survey where 29% of the respondents answered that their cat reacted to the illusion. A number of preferential looking experiments were also indicative of cats experiencing the illusion, but not conclusively so.
KeywordsCatIllusory MotionRotating Snakes IllusionCat VisionVisual Illusions
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