Individual differences in the illusion of self-motion (vection): The role of field dependence, anomalous perceptual experiences, and tolerance of ambiguity.

Abstract

Vection is an illusion of self-motion that arises from conflicting sensory information. There are large individual differences in experiencing vection, indicating a potential role for individual-difference factors in this illusion. Here, we examined the role of field dependence, anomalous perceptual experiences (a specific domain of psychotic-like experiences) and personality disposition of tolerance of ambiguity. We analyzed data from 170 participants (84 male individuals, 86 female individuals). Biological sex had no significant effect on any of the vection measures. However, we found that higher field dependence was associated with faster onset of vection, and that higher prevalence of anomalous perceptual experiences and lower tolerance of ambiguity were associated with longer duration and higher intensity of the illusion. These results suggest that individual-difference factors reflect internal predispositions that guide the interpretation of incoming sensory signals and, especially in conflicting and ambiguous situations, can modulate the process of creating accurate or illusory percepts.