Relationship Of Processing Between Length Illusion And Temporal Information

Time and space are the basic attributes of matter as well as mental existence. Time processing and space processing are closely connected in mental representation. Space embodies spatial distance, size, direction and so on. Among of these elements, spatial distance divides blank distance and full distance. Generally speaking, full distance means length of stimulus in experimental researches. Two theoretical proposals concerning the relationship between temporal and spatial distance processing are evaluated. On the one hand, variation in spatial distance influences processing of time to the same degree that variation in time influence judgments of spatial distance. The symmetric interference between time and space is affected by attention and memory. On the other hand, spatial length processing interferes time estimation, while the latter has no effect on the former. Thereby the interference is asymmetrical. The cross dimensional asymmetry is based on theories of metaphorical mental representation, sensorimotor experience, and the salience of time or space information. Findings from neural mechanism have indicated time estimation and length information processing have common cerebral activity as well as some distinct neural action. In the complicated reality situation, pepole's perception of length is likely affected surrounding as a result to cause illusion. Miiller-Lyer illusion is a frequent one of these length illusions. When length illusion has generated, how the relationship between length information processing and time estimation becomes? Until now there is no relational research report. Making use of Miiller-Lyer illusion, this study strives to investigate whether the relation of processing is disturbed when fins distract pure length information to cause length illusion. Meanwhile, this study tries to explor how time estimation is affected by length illusion.Using time reproduction and length methods, this research includes four experiments. In Experiment 1, manipulating different signal, subjects were required to attend simultaneously duration and length of line and completed duration reproduction or length reproduction. Based on different control situation, Experiment 1 were divided Experiment a, in which arrows wing was vertical to the arrow shaft, and Experiment b, in which experiment stimulus were lines. The results showed that both processing present symmetric interferences. However, actual length remained invariant, arrows wing had no effects on time estimation. Experiment 2 intended to research the possible reason of insignificant effects. Specific procedure was that a series of length was showed in each block. The results showed the effect of length on time estimation had a threshold, displaying the larger differences of lengths leading to the more significant effects on duration estimation. Experiment 3 made arrow shaft exceed the threshold, meanwhile the magnitude of illusion within the threshold. The findings revealed that when subjects engaged in time estimation or length reproduction in separate block, arrows direction had significant importance on time estimation, but the roles of physical length became insignificant. Experiment 4 changed arrow shaft and arrows direction, so that subjective lengths were the same. The result demonstrated equivalent length had similar effects.Through four studies, we deserve the results as follows:(1) Length illusion reproduction and time estimation had symmetric interference when subjects completed dual-task. However, length illusion had significant interference on time estimation, conversely, it was not affected by duration. These results indicated the relationship of both processes was affected by attention.(2) During a series of length was showed, the larger differences of lengths lead to the more significant effects on duration estimation. When the threshold was less than 15mm, length of stimulus had null effect on time estimation. This finding showed that it was the difference of a stimulus from the background, rather than its absolute magnitude, which influences duration estimation.(3) The influence of length on time estimation was disturbed by surrounding, meaning length illusion affected temporal estimation, which influenced by physical length and arrows direction. These distortions in time estimation arise from an interaction between bottom-up and top-down influences.(4) Distinct timing mechanisms are involved in temporal information processing. Determinacy of boundary location do not remain invariant, which is subject to duration choice and particular task demands.