The Effects of Illumination Level and Retinal Size on the Depth Stratification of Subjective Contour Figures

The apparent stratification in depth of subjective contour figures over their backgrounds was investigated as a function of illumination level, figure size, and viewing distance. Magnitude estimation, with a real contour figure serving as the modulus, was used to measure the stratification in depth of a subjective contour figure over its background. Illumination level and retinal size both had significant effects on the depth stratification of the subjective contour figures. The greatest apparent depth differences were obtained for figures of small retinal size under low levels of illumination. These results paralleled previous findings for judgments of subjective contour strength. Consequently, both contour clarity and depth stratification of subjective contour figures are affected in similar ways by illumination level, figure size, and viewing distance. The implications of this response coupling are discussed in terms of current theories of subjective contours.

[1]  Hofstaetter.  Method and Theory in Experimental Psychology , 1954 .

[2]  F. W. Irwin.  Method and theory in experimental psychology. , 1954 .

[3]  G. Kanizsa.  Margini Quasi-percettivi in Campi con Stimolazione Omogenea , 1955 .

[4]  T. Shipley.  Visual Contours in Homogeneous Space , 1965, Science.

[5]  R. Lawson,et al.  Stereopsis and anomalous contour. , 1967, Vision research.

[6]  N. Pastore.  Selective history of theories of visual perception: 1650-1950 , 1975 .

[7]  S. Coren,et al.  SUBJECTIVE CONTOURS AND APPARENT DEPTH , 2005 .

[8]  Daniel J. Weintraub,et al.  The parallel-less Poggendorff: Virtual contours put the illusion down but not out , 1972 .

[9]  R. Gregory,et al.  Cognitive Contours , 1972, Nature.

[10]  Richard L Gregory,et al.  Fusion and Rivalry of Illusory Contours , 1973 .

[11]  R. L. Gregory,et al.  Illusory contours and stereo depth , 1974 .

[12]  W. L. Brigner,et al.  Subjective Contour: Apparent Depth or Simultaneous Brightness Contrast? , 1974, Perceptual and motor skills.

[13]  R. Lawson,et al.  Stereoscopic enhancement and erasure of subjective contours. , 1974, Journal of experimental psychology.

[14]  J. Frisby,et al.  Some New Subjective Contours in Random-Line Stereograms , 1975 .

[15]  ARTHUR P. GINSBURG,et al.  Is the illusory triangle physical or imaginary? , 1975, Nature.

[16]  ANDREW SMITH,et al.  Tilt aftereffects with subjective contours , 1975, Nature.

[17]  S. Coren,et al.  Subjective contour: The inadequacy of brightness contrast as an explanation , 1975 .

[18]  P Tynan,et al.  Moving visual phantoms: a new contour completion effect. , 1975, Science.

[19]  J. Frisby,et al.  Illusory Contours: Curious Cases of Simultaneous Brightness Contrast? , 1975 .

[20]  C. Cavonius.  Ambiguous cognitive contours , 1976, Nature.

[21]  E. Alexander.  Trapped helium and argon and formation of the atmosphere , 1976, Nature.

[22]  R. Lawson,et al.  Subjective contours in stereoscopic space , 1976 .

[23]  Susan T. Dumais,et al.  The effects of illumination level and retinal size on the apparent strength of subjective contours , 1976 .

[24]  J. Kennedy,et al.  A Figure-Density Hypothesis and Illusory Contour Brightness , 1976, Perception.

[25]  N. Weisstein,et al.  A phantom-motion aftereffect. , 1977, Science.

[26]  E M Brussell,et al.  Sensory information and subjective contour. , 1977, The American journal of psychology.

[27]  D R Bradley,et al.  Organizational determinants of subjective contour: the subjective Necker cube. , 1977, The American journal of psychology.

[28]  C. Porac.  Depth in objective and subjective contour patterns , 1978 .

[29]  R. Day,et al.  26 – Subjective Contours, Visual Acuity, and Line Contrast , 1978 .

[30]  T. Parks.  Subjective figures: Does brightness enhancement depend upon subjective boundary definition? , 1979 .

[31]  I. Rock,et al.  Illusory Contours as the Solution to a Problem , 1979, Perception.

[32]  R. Day,et al.  The Relationship between Brightness Contrast and Illusory Contours , 1979, Perception.

[33]  The Subjective Brightness of Illusory Figures: Is Stratification a Factor? , 1980, Perception.

[34]  R. Day,et al.  A note on a second stage in the formation of illusory contours , 1980 .

[35]  G. Meyer,et al.  Faces, Vases, Subjective Contours, and the McCollough Effect , 1980, Perception.

[36]  D. Halpern,et al.  The Determinants of Illusory-Contour Perception , 1981, Perception.

[37]  C Ware,et al.  Subjective contours independent of subjective brightness , 1981, Perception & psychophysics.

[38]  D R Bradley,et al.  Binocular rivalry of real vs. subjective contours , 1982, Perception & psychophysics.

[39]  N Weisstein,et al.  The Motion-Induced Contour , 1981, Perception.

[40]  H. Egusa,et al.  Effect of Brightness on Perceived Distance as a Figure—Ground Phenomenon , 1982, Perception.

[41]  D. Bradley,et al.  Animated subjective contours , 1982, Perception & psychophysics.

[42]  S. Petry,et al.  Stimulus determinants of brightness and distinctness of subjective contours , 1983, Perception & psychophysics.

[43]  N. Weisstein,et al.  The edge of an event: Invariants of a moving illusory contour , 1983, Perception & psychophysics.

[44]  R H Day,et al.  Amodal completion as a basis for illusory contours , 1983, Perception & psychophysics.

[45]  S. Coren,et al.  Subjective Contours and Apparent Depth: a Direct Test , 2022 .

[46]  J. Warm,et al.  Attentional processing and the subjective contour illusion. , 1983, Journal of experimental psychology. General.