• Amodal Volume Completion and the Thin Building Illusion 

      Ekroll, Vebjørn; Mertens, Kathleen; Johan, Wagemans (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2018)
      We report results from an experiment showing that a tall pillar with a triangular base evokes radically different three-dimensional (3D) percepts depending on the vantage point from which it is observed. The base of the ...
    • An apparent motion color illusion 

      van Lier, Rob; Hazenberg, Simon Jan; Ekroll, Vebjørn (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2024)
      We introduce a new illusory color phenomenon. The illusion is evoked by two alternating displays comprising various colored disks. Although the colors in the alternating displays are the same, the color appearance of the ...
    • How Visual Perception of the Inside of Things Creates the Impossible Dovetail 

      Ekroll, Vebjørn; van Lier, Rob (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2020)
      Here, we consider a well-known wooden puzzle known as the impossible dovetail. We argue that an intriguing form of amodal completion, dealing with spontaneous interpretations of the inside of objects is the key to understanding ...
    • The illusion of absence in magic tricks 

      Svalebjørg, Mats; Øhrn, Heidi; Ekroll, Vebjørn (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2020)
      Recently, a curious illusion of absence has been described, where the space behind an occluder is compellingly experienced as empty. This illusion is similar to illusions based on amodal completion in the sense that it ...
    • Illusions of Imagery and Magical Experiences 

      Ekroll, Vebjørn (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2019)
      In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the idea that we may gain new insights in cognitive science by studying the art of magic. Here, I offer a first exploratory overview and preliminary conceptual analysis ...
    • Magic for the mind's eye: A promising avenue for more universal design in the art of magic 

      Ekroll, Vebjørn; Wünsch, Lara; van Lier, Rob (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2024)
      In the art of conjuring, as well as in cognitive science, possibilities for designing magic tricks that are suitable for people who are blind or visually impaired have only rarely been considered. In this article, we argue ...
    • Möbius Band Surprise: A Systematic Illusion in Imagery 

      Haugland, Mons Daniel; Pearson, David G.; Ekroll, Vebjørn (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2021)
      When a Möbius loop is cut along the middle of the band, the result is a single connected loop, yet anecdotal evidence from science demonstrations and the use of this effect in magic tricks suggest that most people are ...
    • Never Repeat the Same Trick Twice – Unless it is Cognitively Impenetrable 

      Ekroll, Vebjørn; De Bruyckere, Evy; Vanwezemael, Lotte; Wagemans, Johan (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2018)
      In their quest for creating magical experiences, magicians rely on a host of psychological factors. Here, we compare tricks based on attentional misdirection with tricks based on amodal completion. Based on the notion that ...
    • A Perceptual Illusion of Empty Space Can Create a Perceptual Illusion of Levitation 

      Øhrn, Heidi; Svalebjørg, Mats; Andersen, Steffen; Ring, Anna Edit; Ekroll, Vebjørn (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2019-12-30)
      A recent analysis of magic tricks suggests the existence of a perceptual illusion where the space hidden behind an occluding object is experienced as empty in a strangely compelling way. Here, we show that this illusion ...
    • A Remarkable Depth Confusion in Images of the Incomplete Statues of Bruno Catalano 

      van Lier, Rob; Ekroll, Vebjørn (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2019)
      Images of Bruno Catalano’s sculptures of incomplete bodies give rise to a remarkable depth confusion in which the background is partly pushed to the front. We argue that this confusion is related to what happens in the ...