The open-object illusion: size perception is greatly influenced by object boundaries

Makovski, Tal

doi:10.3758/s13414-017-1326-5

Cited by 4 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…That is, changes in boundary size (isolated ring) were easier to detect than changes in surface texture size (concentric rings). The conclusion from this experiment that boundary information plays an important role in VSTM of sizes is in agreement with a newly reported visual illusion in which simple open-contour objects (ones with missing boundaries) are perceived as bigger than the same-size closed-contour objects (Makovski, 2017). This open-object illusion highlights the role of boundaries in size perception (see also Stuart, Bossomaier, & Johnson, 1993) and suggests in turn that this factor might also be central for VSTM of an object's size.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…All of these analyses revealed significant effects of size (all F(2, 38) >17.5, ps<.001, η p 2 >.48), in that the relative adjusted size was smaller for bigger items (all linear trends were highly robust: ps<.001, η p 2 >.52). Interestingly, this was the opposite than the trend obtained in perception, where the perceived size increased for bigger items, although those effects were considerably smaller (Makovski, 2017). However, this finding is consistent with the notion that memory for visual areas is compressive in nature (i.e., follows compressive power functions, Algom et al, 1985) and more generally, with the notion that memorial representations are more compressive than their perceptual counterparts (Kerst & Howard, 1978; see also Wiest & Bell, 1985).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 62%

“…Thus, the first set of experiments tested how VSTM of an object's size is affected by the object's boundaries using a reproduction task. Specifically, the stimuli and procedure followed the ones used in the study that tested the role of boundaries in size perception (Makovski, 2017). In that study, it was found that the size perception of the closed objects was fairly accurate, whereas the perceived area of the open objects was inflated by about 15-20% (the open-object illusion).…”

Section: Experiments 1-5: Reproduction Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How do object boundaries affect its size memory? If size memory closely follows size perception (e.g., Kerst & Howard, 1978;Petrusic et al, 2004), and size computation relies on the boundaries of the object (Algom et al, 1985;Stuart et al, 1993) then the prediction would be that VSTM of closed objects would be relatively precise, whereas the size of open objects would be overestimated (Makovski, 2017). One could further speculate that the overestimation of the size of the open objects would be amplified in VSTM relative to perception because it is likely that actually seeing both the test and the probe objects in front of you limits the magnitude of the overestimation effect in perception.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Testing effects in visual short-term memory: The case of an object's size

Makovski

2018

Mem Cogn

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In many daily activities, we need to form and retain temporary representations of an object's size. Typically, such visual short-term memory (VSTM) representations follow perception and are considered reliable. Here, participants were asked to hold in mind a single simple object for a short duration and to reproduce its size by adjusting the length and width of a test probe. Experiment 1 revealed two powerful findings: First, similar to a recently reported perceptual illusion, participants greatly overestimated the size of open objects - ones with missing boundaries - relative to the same-size fully closed objects. This finding confirms that object boundaries are critical for size perception and memory. Second, and in contrast to perception, even the size of the closed objects was largely overestimated. Both inflation effects were substantial and were replicated and extended in Experiments 2-5. Experiments 6-8 used a different testing procedure to examine whether the overestimation effects are due to inflation of size in VSTM representations or to biases introduced during the reproduction phase. These data showed that while the overestimation of the open objects was repeated, the overestimation of the closed objects was not. Taken together, these findings suggest that similar to perception, only the size representation of open objects is inflated in VSTM. Importantly, they demonstrate the considerable impact of the testing procedure on VSTM tasks and further question the use of reproduction procedures for measuring VSTM.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Experiments 1-5: Reproduction Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Testing effects in visual short-term memory: The case of an object's size

Makovski

2018

Mem Cogn

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“…It can be stated that any visual object appears larger than its occupied area. The object boundaries produce an expansion of both the perceived length and height, and, consequently, size (Makovski, 2017). Disconnected or missing boundaries produce greater illusions than continuous and fully closed ones.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oppel-Kundt illusion balance

Bertulis¹,

Surkys²,

Bielevičius³

2020

Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis

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Perceptual estimates of spatial dimensions of visual objects depend on their shape and surface attributes. The present psychophysical study emphasizes two main contributors to the Oppel-Kundt illusion: the outline of the filled space and the mode of filling. In past experiments, both factors have been considered significant. Our experiments were performed by using combined stimuli of the Oppel-Kundt figures and supplementary objects situated within the empty intervals of the figures. Line segments, empty and filled rectangles, blurred contours, and grey and color images were used for the supplementary stimuli role. The experimental data demonstrated an innate property of the objects to balance the illusion of distance if they were placed within the Oppel-Kundt figure and to create an illusion of extent when compared with an empty space interval. Both the balance magnitude and the induced illusion strength varied depending on the objects' spatial structure. The supplementary objects showed a tendency to differ from each other by their functional capacity and were ranked from lowest to highest: a line segment, a solid bar with a blurred outline, a contour of a rectangle, a solid fill rectangle, greyscale patterns, and color pictures. The experimental findings provided support for an explanation of the Oppel-Kundt illusion in terms of the spatial-temporal summation of excitations representing the object outline and surface attributes at the lower cortical levels of the visual system. Along with the facts already established in current literature, the experimental data gave rise to the assumption that any visual object could appear larger than its occupied area, and that the Oppel-Kundt illusion could become a separate case in the common sensory phenomenon of object size illusion.

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Research on visual size and visual alignment optimization of icon set design

Shao,

Che,

2023

Displays

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The open-object illusion: size perception is greatly influenced by object boundaries

Cited by 4 publications

References 27 publications

Testing effects in visual short-term memory: The case of an object's size

Testing effects in visual short-term memory: The case of an object's size

Oppel-Kundt illusion balance

Research on visual size and visual alignment optimization of icon set design

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