title: Infants' perception of illusory contours in static and moving figures.
abstract: We investigated 3-8-month-olds' (N=62) perception of illusory contours in a Kanizsa figure by using a preferential looking technique. Previous studies suggest that this ability develops around 8 months of age. However, we hypothesized that even 3-4-month-olds could perceive illusory contours in a moving figure. To check our hypothesis, we created an illusory contour figure in which the illusory square underwent lateral movement. By rotating the elements of this figure, we created non-illusory contour figures. We found that: (1) infants preferred moving illusory contours to non-illusory contours by 3-4 months of age, and (2) only 7-8-month-olds preferred static illusory contours. Our findings demonstrate that motion information promotes infants' perception of illusory contours. Our results parallel those reported in the study of partly occluded objects ().
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Chuo University 742-1, Higashinakano, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0393, Japan. o2341004@crow.grad.tamacc.chuo-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Masami K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception