Abstract
The distortion of perceived line length produced by the parallel-lines configuration reversed fromassimilation to contrast with large suprafoveal spatial separation of the contextual and test lines (Experiment 1). This new contrast effect was predicted by a pool-and-store model of size distortion (Girgus & Coren, 1982). However, contrary to the predictions of the model, the amount of spatial separation needed to produce the reversal did not depend on an absolute visual-angle (foveal) measure of separation. Rather, the reversal was determined by the relative spatial separation of contextual and test lines (Experiment 2); that is, small test lines required a smaller spatial separation from a contextual line to produce contrast than did larger test lines. On the basis of these findings, a revised pool-and-store model of length distortion is proposed.
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Preparation of this manuscript was supported by NASA Grant NCC-2-327 to San Jose State University, Kevin Jordan, Project Director
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Jordan, K., Schiano, D.J. Serial processing and the parallel-lines illusion: Length contrast through relative spatial separation of contours. Perception & Psychophysics 40, 384–390 (1986). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208197
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208197