ABSTRACT

Objective

We tested the plausibility of the hypothesized Line Bias Illusion to explain a spatial disorientation phenomenon known as the Black Hole Illusion (BHI): in the absence of a visible horizon, pilots misjudge an implicit horizon from the convergence point of parallel runway edge lines.

Background

BHI occurs when impoverished visual conditions at night cause pilots to fly too low on landing approaches. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain BHI, without clear consensus in the literature.

Method

We conducted multiple experiments in which participants judged the intersection point of dotted lines on a computer screen. In Experiment 1, participants placed a horizon line where they believed two converging dotted line segments should intersect. In Experiments 2A and 2B, participants estimated the intersection point of single dotted line segments with a separate solid line.

Results

Participants in Experiment 1 tended to place the intersection point of two converging lines too low on the computer screen. Participants in Experiments 2A and 2B tended to respond as if the stimulus lines were more horizontal than actually presented.

Conclusion

Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that pilots misjudge the location of an implicit horizon based on the runway edge lines. In the context of a visual spatial strategy that assumes a stable horizon, such a misperception may cause pilots to adopt a low flight path.

中文翻译：

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初步支持线偏向幻觉有助于黑洞效应

摘要

目的

我们测试了假设的“线偏向幻觉”的合理性，以解释一种称为“黑洞幻觉”（BHI）的空间迷失现象：在没有可见视线的情况下，飞行员会从平行跑道边缘线的会聚点误判隐性视线。

背景

当夜间视觉状况不佳导致飞行员在着陆进场时飞得过低时，就会发生BHI。在文献中没有明确共识的情况下，已经提出了多种假设来解释BHI。

方法

我们进行了多次实验，参与者在其中判断了计算机屏幕上虚线的交点。在实验1中，参与者放置一条地平线，他们认为两个会聚的虚线段应相交。在实验2A和2B中，参与者估计了单个虚线段与单独的实线的交点。

结果

实验1的参与者倾向于将两条会聚线的交点放置在计算机屏幕上的位置过低。实验2A和2B的参与者倾向于做出反应，好像刺激线比实际呈现的更加水平。

结论

我们的发现与飞行员根据跑道边缘线错误判断隐性地平线位置的假设相符。在视觉空间策略假定地平线稳定的情况下，这种误解可能会导致飞行员采用较低的飞行路线。