Abstract
Generating an inducing figure by photoflash led to underestimation of the size of a luminous outline test circle in a nonluminous surround. As the afterimage of the inducing circle decayed, judged size of the test circle attained true size. The more intense inducing flash produced a longer lasting perceptible afterimage but no alteration in amount of test-circle underestimation as a function of time. The type of inducing configuration (outer concentric circle, nonconcentric circles, arcs) proved to have no differential effect. In the absence of an inducing figure, subjects make veridical judgments.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cooper, L. A., &Weintraub, D. J. Delboeuf-type circle illusions: Interactions among luminance, temporal characteristics, and inducing-figure variations.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970,85, 75–82.
Dixon, W. J., &Massey, F. J.Introduction to statistical analysis (2nd ed.), New York:McGraw-Hill, 1957.
Ganz, L. Is the figural aftereffect anaftereffect? A review of its intensity, onset, decay, and transfer characteristics.Psychological Bulletin, 1966,66, 151–165. (a)
Ganz, L. Mechanism of the figural aftereffect.Psychological Review, 1966,73, 128–150. (b)
Girgus, J. S., Coren, S., &Agdern, M. The interrelationship between the Ebbinghaus and Delboeuf illusions.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972,95, 453–455.
Graham, E. H. Figural after-effects as functions of contrast, area, and luminance of the inspection-figure.Psychologia, 1961,4, 201–208.
Hanley, C., &Zerbolio, D. J. Developmental changes in five illusions measured by the up-and-down method.Child Development, 1965,36, 437–452.
Hochberg, J. Perception: Color and shape. In J. W. Kling and L. A. Riggs (Eds.),Woodworth & Schlosberg’s experimental psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 1971.
Ikeda, H., &Obonai, T. The quantitative analysis of figural after-effect (I). The process of growth and decay of figural aftereffect.Japanese Journal of Psychology, 1953,24, 59–68.
Massaro, D. W., &Anderson, N. H. Judgmental model of the Ebbinghaus illusion.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1971,89, 147–151.
Oyama, T. The effect of hue and brightness on the size-illusion of concentric circles.American Journal of Psychology, 1962,75, 45–55.
Weintraub, D. J., &Cooper, L. A. Coming of age with the Delboeuf illusion: Brightness contrast, congition, and perceptual development.Developmental Psychology, 1972,6, 187–197.
Weintraub, D. J., Tong, L., &Smith, A. J. Müller-Lyer versus size/reflentance-contrast illusion: Is the age-related decrement caused by a declining sensitivity to brightness contours?Developmental Psychology, 1973,8, 6–15.
Weintraub, D. J., Wilson, B. A., Greene, R. D., &Palmquist, M. J. Delboeuf illusion: Displacement versus diameter, are detections, and brightness contrast.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1968,80, 505–511.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The investigation was supported in part by a United States Public Health Service Research Scientist Development Award (K2-MH-35253) to the second author from the National Institute of Mental Health. Research funds were provided partly by National Science Foundation Grant GB 8181 and partly by Grant MH 23767 from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
O’Halloran, W.J., Weintraub, D.J. Delboeuf “illusions” of circle size induced via photoflash-generated afterimages. Perception & Psychophysics 22, 171–176 (1977). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198751
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03198751