Abstract
The distortion of perceived line length produced by the Müller-Lyer figures reverses fromassimilation to contrast under conditions of temporal separation of contextual fins from judged shaft (Experiment 1) and spatial separation of contextual and judged elements (Experiment 2). In both experiments, the outgoing fins produced underestimation of judged shaft length whereas ingoing fins produced overestimation. These findings were predicted by the “pool and store” model of perceptual distortions (Girgus & Coren, 1982) and point to the need for a unified model of assimilation and contrast of perceived size. Extensions and refinements of the “pool and store” model are proposed.
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The preparation of this report was supported by NASA Grant NCC-2-237 to Kevin Jordan.
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Jordan, K., Uhlarik, J. Length contrast in the Müller-Lyer figure: Functional equivalence of temporal and spatial separation. Perception & Psychophysics 39, 267–274 (1986). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03204934
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03204934