The Alien in the Forest OR When Temporal Context Dominates Perception. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kornmeier, Jürgen; Mayer, Gerhard
• Is Part Of: Perception. Volume 43:Number 11(2014)
• Page Start: 1270
• Page End: 1274
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: visual perception -- perceptual construction -- ambiguity; Perception -- Periodicals; Perception -- Periodicals; Perception; Periodicals; 153.705
• DOI: 10.1068/p7844
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-0066

Abstract

Some German hunters came up with pictures taken from a wildlife camera and showing a strange humanoid-like object of about 10 cm size. Its puzzling appearance and a remarkable absence of wildlife in that area after its occurrence triggered paranormal explanations. After reexamination of the pictures, we found a more plausible conventional explanation. This case study serves as an interesting real-world example for the constructive nature of human perception. We discuss how the perceptual system uses spatial and temporal/memory factors to disambiguate ambiguous and restricted sensory information.