waterfall illusion
Date: 1890
Inventory Number: WJ0216
Classification: Waterfall Illusion
Subject:
Maker: William James (1842 - 1910)
User: Hugo Münsterberg (1863 - 1916)
Inventor: Henry P. Bowditch (1840 - 1911)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
88.1 x 48.5 x 31.5 cm (34 11/16 x 19 1/8 x 12 3/8 in.)
Bibliography:
Partners in Innovation: Science Education and the Science Workforce
Description:
Striped fabric is nailed to a wooden frame, whose exposed parts are painted black. The opening in the frame reveals a continuous band of fabric that moves up and down by means of rollers. The rollers are attached with metal brackets. Some of the screws are missing.
The fabric band has a machine stitched hem, and is sewn with black and white thread. The stripes are printed rather than woven. The width of a stripe is 3.5 cm. Records allege that the fabric was taken from a professor's bathing suit.
The fabric band has a machine stitched hem, and is sewn with black and white thread. The stripes are printed rather than woven. The width of a stripe is 3.5 cm. Records allege that the fabric was taken from a professor's bathing suit.
In Collection(s)
Signedunsigned
FunctionDesigned by noted Harvard physiologist, Henry P. Bowditch, the "artificial waterfall" was used to study the waterfall illusion, the experience of hikers who, after staring at descending water, avert their gaze to the cliff and perceive the rocks rising upwards. The illusion is due to a motion aftereffect.
Historical AttributesWilliam James made this example of the waterfall illusion in the Psychology Laboratory around 1890. This item is listed and pictured in Hugo Münsterberg's 1893 pamphlet and inventory about the Psychological Laboratory of Harvard University as "Artificial waterfall. After Bowditch; made in the Laboratory."
Henry P. Bowditch was the inventor of the device and was a noted professor of physiology in the Harvard Medical School. Photographs of his laboratory also show a version of the instrument.
Early examples had narrower stripes set closer to together.
Henry P. Bowditch was the inventor of the device and was a noted professor of physiology in the Harvard Medical School. Photographs of his laboratory also show a version of the instrument.
Early examples had narrower stripes set closer to together.
Primary SourcesHugo Munsterberg, Psychological Laboratory of Harvard University (Cambridge, 1893), no. 162. See Harvard University Archives HUF 715.93.72.