Japanese researcher Higashiyama Atsuki won an Ig Nobel Prize in 2016 for his work on the effect of viewing objects between one’s own legs. Although often seen as a joke, the Ig Nobel Prizes highlight surprisingly illuminating scientific fields. Higashiyama’s research explores the connections between the body and the brain and clarifies the influence of physical information on visual illusions. He conducted experiments with over 200 student volunteers and found that the “between-legs effect” was mainly due to physical information rather than visual information. Higashiyama believes that the physical factor should not be ignored in the field of psychology and that conclusions must be based on evidence. Despite initially hesitating to accept the Ig Nobel Prize, he eventually did so in order to inspire the next generation of researchers and students. Winning the prize increased media interest and opportunities to lecture on his research. Higashiyama’s current project focuses on the perception of the direction of the arms and body and the effect of adapting to that direction. His greatest joy is sharing his research with others and knowing that they find it interesting.
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c12403/