title: Filling-in with colour: different modes of surface completion.
abstract: We investigated the figural dynamics of filling-in processes in figures with more than one possible figure-ground organisation. Using a central disk and two concentric rings as well as similar stimuli consisting of three nested squares or parallel stripes, we tested for filling-in with different equiluminant colour combinations. We observed four modes of filling-in: First, in most of the cases, the inner ring assumed the colour of the central disk and outer ring (M1). Second, the central disk became filled-in with the colour of the inner ring, without any colour change on the outer ring (M2). Third, in a first step, the colour of the inner ring spread onto the central disk; then, in a second step, the colour of the outer ring spread over the whole stimulus (M3). This two step filling-in process has not been reported so far. Fourth, a mode (M4) was sometimes observed that was characterised by the central disk and outer ring assuming the colour of the inner ring. Thus, colour filling-in or colour spreading proceeded both in a centripetal (periphery to fovea) as well as a centrifugal direction. The colours red and yellow proved to be stronger inducers than blue and green. Conversely, the latter colours became filled-in more easily than the former. The filled-in colour was always that of the inducing stimulus, i.e., there was no colour mixture. This suggests a long-range, neural process underlying filling-in under these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Unit, University of Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. kai.hamburger@psychol.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamburger
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sarris
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spillmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009903:Optical Illusions / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics