Cognitive training based on human-computer interaction and susceptibility to visual illusions. Reduction of the Ponzo effect through working memory training

Abstract

The main objective of the current study was to test the efficiency of adaptive cognitive training programs based on human-computer interaction. More specifically, the influence of this training on resistance to orientation visual illusions (Poggendorff, Zӧllner) and metric visual illusions (Ebbinghaus, Müller-Lyer, Ponzo) was tested. In addition, the second goal of the study was to verify whether Witkin's field dependence/independence, defined as an individual's ability to identify parts of an organized visual field as elements separate from that field, moderates the influence of cognitive training on visual illusion resistance. 250 participants aged 19–32 took part in the experiment. In addition to a passive control group, three training groups were used: a working memory-training group, an attention-training group, and a perception-training group. The groups were homogeneous in terms of gender, age, and proportion of field-dependent and field-independent individuals. All groups received about three weeks of adaptive cognitive training, consisting of 18 sessions of 30 min per day. The results showed that, in general, field-dependent participants appeared to be more susceptible to visual illusions than field-independent ones. Most importantly, working memory training appeared to be effective in reducing susceptibility to the Ponzo illusion.