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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.02.10.430572

The Size-Weight Illusion is unimpaired in individuals with a history of congenital visual deprivation

Pant, R.·Guerreiro, M. J. S.·Ley, P.·Bottari, D.·Shareef, I.·Kekunnaya, R.·Roeder, B.
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Abstract

Visual deprivation in childhood can lead to lifelong impairments in visual and multisensory processing. Here, the Size-Weight-Illusion was used to test whether visuo-haptic integration recovers after sight restoration. In Experiment 1, congenital (CC: 7 (3F), 8-35 years) and developmental cataract reversal individuals (DC: 9 (2F), 8-37 years), as well as congenitally blind (CB: 2 (1F), 33 and 44 years) and normally sighted individuals (SC: 10 (7F), 19-36 years) perceived larger objects as lighter than smaller objects of the same weight. In Experiment 2, CC (6 (1F), 17-44.7 years) and SC (7 (5F), 21-29 years) individuals performed identically when tested without haptic size cues. Together, this suggested that early visual experience is not necessary to perceive the Size-Weight-Illusion.

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Pant, R., Guerreiro, M. J. S., Ley, P., Bottari, D., Shareef, I., Kekunnaya, R., Roeder, B.. 2021-02-10. The Size-Weight Illusion is unimpaired in individuals with a history of congenital visual deprivation. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.10.430572

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