Circles of deception: the Ebbinghaus illusion from fish to birds.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how animals perceive visual illusions provides valuable insights into the evolution of sensory systems and how these systems are adapted to meet the perceptual demands of an animal's natural environment. This study investigates the susceptibility to the Ebbinghaus illusion in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and ring doves (Streptopelia risoria), two species with contrasting ecological and sensory adaptations. The Ebbinghaus illusion, where the perceived size of a central circle is influenced by surrounding circles, offers a robust framework for exploring context-dependent size perception. Guppies displayed high susceptibility to the illusion, possibly reflecting their reliance on global visual processing for interpreting complex aquatic environments. This heighten

SUBMITTER: Santaca M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12580313 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature