Subjective towers: depth relationships in multilevel subjective contours.
The perceived depth associated with subjective contours was studied with a three-level subjective contour configuration. An analysis of subjects' size judgments showed significant size-constancy scaling consistent with the prediction that subjects would perceive the various subjective surfaces as superimposed upon one another in depth. Direct depth estimations, however, showed only weak depth effects, easily reversed by conflicting depth cues, and observed with real, as well as subjective contours. The discrepant results point to the possibility of different functional depth cues for the two tasks. The order of tasks, indicative of priming, further suggested that depth processing may be secondary to pattern recognition rather than being causal in the formation of subjective contours.
D000328:Adult; D003867:Depth Perception; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions; D008297:Male; D009903:Optical Illusions; D012858:Size Perception