Abstract
The reduction in illusion magnitude with visual inspection and the transfer of such illusion decrement to a noninspected figure were examined in real- and subjective-contour Poggendorff figures. For both types of figures, illusion magnitude decreased significantly, and in a similar manner, during a 5-min inspection period. Postinspection tests showed that inspecting either a real- or subjective-contour figure resulted in a reduction in illusion magnitude for the other, noninspected figure. These findings suggest that real- and subjective-contour Poggendorfffigures share a similar global organization and are thus probably processed in a similar manner. These characteristics make subjective-contour figures a useful tool for separating illusion-producing mechanisms into structural and strategy components.
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Preparation of this article was made possible in part by faculty development release time granted to the author by Youngstown State University, An earlier version of this work was presented at the meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, April 1986.
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Beckett, P.A. Illusion decrement and transfer of illusion decrement in real- and subjective-contour Poggendorff figures. Perception & Psychophysics 45, 550–556 (1989). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208062
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208062