The Perception of Illusory Contours: A Skills Analysis

Abstract

In this chapter we set out to argue that an analysis in terms of perceptual skill is required for the perception of both illusory contours and real contours. Although there is already a tradition of studying the perception of real edges as a matter of perceptual skill (Gibson, 1969), this does not appear to have been done previously for illusory contours and shapes. It is expected that adoption of a skills analysis will cause light to be cast on the processes of perceiving both illusory and real contours.