Relative contribution of lateral inhibition to the Delboeuf and Wundt-Hering illusions.
It has been suggested that lateral neural interactions contribute to some illusions with intersecting or converging line elements but cannot be present in figures that lack these components. Most attempts to ascertain the contribution of neural interactions in visual illusions have involved changes in the actual pattern of illusion. It has now been demonstrated that certain forms of intermittent light stimulation can enhance lateral inhibitory activity. The Wundt-Hering and the Delboeuf illusions were tested under continuous illumination and "shaped" intermittent illumination which augments lateral inhibition. As expected, the Delboeuf illusion was unchanged with increased lateral inhibition while the magnitude of the Wundt-Hering illusion increased.
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. scoren@cortex.psych.ubc.ca
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D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009903:Optical Illusions / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*