The Role of Figure Orientation and Apparent Depth in the Perception of the Horizontal—Vertical Illusion

An experiment was performed which examined the role of figural orientation directly, and the role of an inappropriately invoked size-constancy mechanism indirectly, in the actuation and magnitude of the horizontal—vertical illusion. When the vertical line of the stimulus figure was aligned above the horizontal line, the illusory effect was significant and positive; in contrast, when the vertical line was located below the horizontal line, the illusion was negative. Under the assumption that a vertical line can appear as a foreshortened line in depth, these findings support an explanation based on the operation of a misapplied size-constancy mechanism.