On the origin of the Helmholtz's square illusion: An attentional account.

ABSTRACT: A square filled with parallel horizontal or vertical lines appears perceptually extended in the direction orthogonal to the lines. Here, we suggest that this Helmholtz illusion arises due to changes in spatial attention that entail changes at very early stages of perceptual processing. Three experiments are reported which tested this assumption. In Experiment1 and Experiment2, transient attentional cues were flashed in such a way that they either promoted (congruent condition) or hindered (incongruent condition) the attentional state presumably induced by the target objects. We predicted a decline of the illusion in the incongruent condition compared with the congruent condition. This prediction was confirmed in both experiments. However, the influence of (in)congruent attention cuing on t

SUBMITTER: Kirsch W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10545586 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature