A test of size-scaling and relative-size hypotheses for the moon illusion

In two experiments participants reproduced the size of the moon in pictorial scenes under two conditions: when the scene element was normally oriented, producing a depth gradient like a floor, or when the scene element was inverted, producing a depth gradient like a ceiling.Target moons were located near to or far from the scene element.Consistent with size constancy scaling, the illusion reversed when the “floor” of a pictorial scene was inverted to represent a “ceiling.” Relative size contrast predicted a reduction or increase in the illusion with no change in direction.The relation between pictorial and natural moon illusions is discussed.

[1]  M. Wagner,et al.  The metric of visual space , 1985, Perception & psychophysics.

[2]  Barbara Gillam,et al.  The Perception of Spatial Layout from Static Optical Information , 1995 .

[3]  M. Hagen,et al.  Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. , 2002, The American psychologist.

[4]  J C Baird,et al.  A simple but powerful theory of the moon illusion. , 1990, Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance.

[5]  Equidistance effects in visual fields. , 1969, The American journal of psychology.

[6]  R. W. Ditchburn.  Seeing is Deceiving: The Psychology of Visual Illusions , 1979 .

[7]  Constancy and the Geometric Illusions , 1965, Nature.

[8]  L Kaufman,et al.  The Moon Illusion, I: Explanation of this phenomenon was sought through the use of artificial moons seen on the sky. , 1962, Science.

[9]  W. H. Ittelson,et al.  The size-distance invariance hypothesis. , 1953, Psychological review.

[10]  L. Kaufman,et al.  Handbook of perception and human performance , 1986 .

[11]  R. Gregory.  Comments on the Inappropriate Constancy Scaling Theory of the Illusions and its Implications , 1967, The Quarterly journal of experimental psychology.

[12]  W. Epstein,et al.  Perceived depth as a function of relative height under three background conditions. , 1966, Journal of experimental psychology.

[13]  J. P. Harris,et al.  Illusion-Destruction by Appropriate Scaling , 1975 .

[14]  W. Gogel,et al.  EQUIDISTANCE TENDENCY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. , 1965, Psychological bulletin.

[15]  L. Kaufman,et al.  The moon illusion. , 1962, Scientific American.

[16]  H. Helson.  Adaptation-level theory : an experimental and systematic approach to behavior , 1964 .

[17]  F. Restle,et al.  An adaptation-level theory account of a relative-size illusion , 1968 .

[18]  On the Moon Illusion. , 1962 .

[19]  H. Gruber.  The relation of perceived size to perceived distance. , 1954, The American journal of psychology.

[20]  Walter C. Gogel,et al.  A two-process theory of the response to size and distance , 1987, Perception & Psychophysics.

[21]  J. Kennedy.  A psychology of picture perception , 1974 .

[22]  L Kaufman,et al.  Explaining the moon illusion. , 2000, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[23]  Gordon M. Redding,et al.  The Müller-Lyer contrast illusion: A computational approach , 1993, Perception & psychophysics.

[24]  F Restle.  Moon illusion explained on the basis of relative size. , 1970, Science.

[25]  D. McCready.  On size, distance, and visual angle perception , 1985, Perception & psychophysics.

[26]  Sheena Rogers.  Perceiving Pictorial Space , 1995 .

[27]  Michael Kubovy,et al.  The Psychology of Perspective and Renaissance Art. , 1986 .

[28]  A. S. Gilinsky.  The Paradoxical Moon Illusions , 1980, Perceptual and motor skills.

[29]  R. Gregory,et al.  Distortion of Visual Space as Inappropriate Constancy Scaling , 1963, Nature.

[30]  S Coren,et al.  Moon illusion in pictures: a multimechanism approach. , 1990, Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance.

[31]  L. Kaufman,et al.  The Moon Illusion, II , 1962, Science.

[32]  S. Coren.  The Moon Illusion: A Different View through the Legs , 1992, Perceptual and motor skills.

[33]  Richard R. Rosinski,et al.  Compensation for Viewing Point in the Perception of Pictured Space. , 1979 .

[34]  John M. Kennedy,et al.  Optics Painting and Photography , 1970 .

[35]  W. Epstein,et al.  The current status of the size-distance hypotheses. , 1961, Psychological bulletin.

[36]  S. Coren,et al.  Differentiation and decrement in the Mueller-Lyer illusion , 1972 .