A historical note on illusory contours in shadow writing.
It is widely accepted that illusory contours have been first displayed and discussed by Schumann (1900, Zeitschrift für Psychologie und Physiologie der Sinnesorgane 23 1-32). Here we show that, before him, Jastrow (1899, Popular Science Monthly 54 299-312) produced illusory contours consisting of a shadow word. A brief history of shadow writing in psychological literature from Jastrow to Brunswik is presented, in which the contributions of Pillsbury, Warren, Koffka, and Benussi are examined.
Vezzani
Stefano
S
Department of Neuroscience, Section of Physiology, University of Parma, 39 via Volturno, 43100 Parma, Italy.
Marino
Barbara F M
BF
D005556:Form Perception; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009903:Optical Illusions; D011584:Psychology / Q000266:history*; D014956:Writing / Q000266:history*