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Journal Article•DOI•

Lateral inhibition and geometric illusions.

Stanley Coren1•
The New School1
01 May 1970-Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (Taylor & Francis Group)-Vol. 22, Iss: 2, pp 274-278
TL;DR: The results indicate that lateral inhibition may play a contributory role in illusion formation, but it is not the primary casual, mechanism.
Abstract: It has been suggested that lateral inhibitory processes, operating through the mutual inhibition and displacement of spatially adjacent contours imaged on the retina, may account for many of the classical geometric illusions. Two experiments were conducted, one using an alternative form of the Poggendorff illusion, and the other an alternative form of the Muller—Lyer, in which the adjacent contours necessary for the operation of the inhibitory mechanism were eliminated. In both instances the illusion was still found to exist, although somewhat reduced in magnitude. These results indicate that lateral inhibition may play a contributory role in illusion formation, but it is not the primary casual, mechanism.
Citations
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Journal Article•DOI•
Interactions between orientations in human vision

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Roger H. S. Carpenter1, Colin Blakemore1•
University of Cambridge1
26 Oct 1973-Experimental Brain Research
TL;DR: Evidence is presented that single lines cause changes in the apparent orientation of nearby lines of somewhat different orientation, where acute angles are perceptually expanded while obtuse angles apparently contract, due to recurrent, inhibitory interactions among orientation selective neural channels.
Abstract: Single lines cause changes in the apparent orientation of nearby lines of somewhat different orientation: acute angles are perceptually expanded while obtuse angles apparently contract. This phenomenon is measured by a matching technique and evidence is presented that it is due to recurrent, inhibitory interactions among orientation selective neural channels. In particular, a third line added to an angle figure can have a disinhibiting effect on the orientational distortion. Orientation selective channels maximally sensitive to different orientations may have different distributions of inhibitory input in the orientation domain. The results are interpreted in terms of the organization of neurones in the visual cortex. Each cell may receive a crude orientation selectivity from its direct input, and be inhibited, over an even broader range of orientation, by neurones in the same column and adjacent ones.

264 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Preemption effects in visual search: evidence for low-level grouping.

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Ronald A. Rensink1, James T. Enns•
Harvard University1
01 Jan 1995-Psychological Review
TL;DR: Experiments are presented showing that visual search for Mueller-Lyer stimuli is based on complete configurations, rather than component segments, which support the view that rapid visual search cannot access the primitives formed at the earliest stages of visual processing; rather, it can access only higher-level, more ecologically-relevant structures.
Abstract: Experiments are presented showing that visual search for Mueller-Lyer (ML) stimuli is based on complete configurations, rather than component segments. Segments easily detected in isolation were difficult to detect when embedded in a configuration, indicating preemption by low-level groups. This preemption—which caused stimulus components to become inaccessible to rapid search—was an all-ornothing effect, and so could serve as a powerful test of grouping. It is shown that these effects are unlikely to be due to blurring by simple spatial filters at early visual levels. It is proposed instead that they are due to more sophisticated processes that rapidly bind contour fragments into spatially-extended assemblies. These results support the view that rapid visual search cannot access the primitives formed at the earliest stages of visual processing; rather, it can access only higher-level, more ecologically-relevant structures. The processes that underlie human vision are often divided into two fundamentally different classes: operations that are carried out in parallel over space, and operations that are not (e.g., Neisser, 1967; von Helmholtz, 1867/1962). For the most part, parallel processes are rapid (i.e., they occur within a few hundred milliseconds), effortless, and automatic (i.e., they cannot be affected by immediate changes in higher-level goals), whereas nonparallel processes are slower, more effortful, and nonautomatic. In its current embodiment, this dichotomy divides vision into an early preattentive and a subsequent attentive stage (e.g., Beck, 1982; Julesz, 1984; Treisman, 1988; Treisman, Cavanagh, Fischer, Ramachandran, & von der Heydt, 1990). The preattentive stage is thought to extract simple "features" in parallel across the visual field, while the attentive stage employs a variety of serial processes to assemble these features into coherent descriptions of the external world. Evidence for this view is based largely on studies of visual search, in which rapidly-detected items are believed to contain features that differ from those in their surroundings (see, e.g., Treisman, 1988). Because of their simple nature, features are sometimes

191 citations

Cites background from "Lateral inhibition and geometric il..."

  • ...The simplest of these are "structural" mechanisms, including blurring via optical scattering in the eye, lateral inhibitory connections in the retinal ganglion cells, and neural pooling in the cortex (Coren, 1970)....

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  • ...This blurring causes the ML figure to distort, with the wings-out configuration becoming longer than the wings-in configuration (Coren, 1970; Ginsburg, 1984, 1986)....

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Journal Article•DOI•
Principles of perceptual organization and spatial distortion: the gestalt illusions.

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Stanley Coren1, Joan S. Girgus•
University of British Columbia1
01 Jan 1980-Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance
TL;DR: Using the principles of proximity, similarity, good continuation, and two types of closure, it was found that interior distances are underestimated relative to exterior distances.
Abstract: In five interleaved experiments, conducted with 94 observers, it is shown that organization of the visual field according to gestalt principles results in measurable spatial distortions. Using the principles of proximity, similarity, good continuation, and two types of closure, it was found that interior distances (within a perceptual unit or group) are underestimated relative to exterior distances. The relationship between these spatial distortions and the resultant perceptual organization are discussed. Language: en

166 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
An efferent component in the visual perception of direction and extent.

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Stanley Coren1•
University of British Columbia1
01 Oct 1986-Psychological Review
TL;DR: A new theory linking information extraction patterns, specifically adapted for the guidance of eye movements, to the visual perception of direction and extent is presented, and a research strategy to test for efferent involvement in visual perception in humans is presented.
Abstract: After outlining the history of motor theories of visual perception, a new theory linking information extraction patterns, specifically adapted for the guidance of eye movements, to the visual perception of direction and extent is presented. Following a brief discussion of comparative and physiological considerations, a research strategy to test for efferent involvement in visual perception in humans is presented. In seven demonstration experiments, predictions from efferent considerations are used to create a new set of illusions of direction and extent and to demonstrate new predictable variations in the magnitude of some classical illusion figures. Another demonstration illustrates that systematic changes in visual perception occur as a function of changes in motoric demands, even in the absence of any configurational changes in the stimulus. A final section shows the relationship between attention and efferent readiness and their interaction in the formation of the conscious visual percept. From a historical perspective, most contemporary theories of visual perception are quite conservative. This conservatism springs from an apparent acceptance of the premise that any proper analysis of visual experience must avoid reference to nonvisual mechanisms, except for labeling and semantic aspects of the perceptual process. It follows that most visual theorists tend to derive virtually every aspect of the conscious percept solely from either the physical characteristics of the visual stimulus array or the operation of readily definable neurological units in the visual system. Characteristic of the former viewpoint is Gibson's (1979) theory of ecological optics, which maintains that virtually all aspects of the final percept are predictable from invariants in the stimulus array. Current attempts to derive the conscious percept from a hypothesized Fourier analysis occurring within the visual system are similar in approach, merely relying on higher

131 citations

Cites background from "Lateral inhibition and geometric il..."

  • ...classical illusion figures, replacing the (target) vertices and the (extraneous) line ends with dots and still to obtain the usually expected illusory distortions (Coren, 1970; White, 1972)....

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  • ...Coren (1970) has verified that the illusion still exists in this form, although it is somewhat reduced in magnitude, suggesting that other factors may serve to augment the basic effect....

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  • ...…overestimation increases, but the size of the distortion is weakened if the wings are too long, as in C.) classical illusion figures, replacing the (target) vertices and the (extraneous) line ends with dots and still to obtain the usually expected illusory distortions (Coren, 1970; White, 1972)....

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Journal Article•DOI•
The Creation and Reversal of the Müller-Lyer Illusion through Attentional Manipulation

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Stanley Coren1, Clare Porac2•
University of British Columbia1, University of Victoria2
01 Feb 1983-Perception
TL;DR: In free viewing no distortion of length occurs; however, overestimation or underestimation illusions can be produced by simple manipulation of the attentional set, thus demonstrating one cognitive component in the formation of the Müller-Lyer distortion.
Abstract: A configuration is presented in which both the overestimated and the underestimated portions of the Muller-Lyer illusion are embedded. In free viewing no distortion of length occurs; however, overestimation or underestimation illusions can be produced by simple manipulation of the attentional set, thus demonstrating one cognitive component in the formation of the Muller-Lyer distortion.

119 citations

References
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Journal Article•DOI•
Some informational aspects of visual perception.

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Fred Attneave
01 May 1954-Psychological Review
TL;DR: Special types of lawfulness which may exist in space at a fixed time, and which seem particularly relevant to processes of visual perception are focused on.
Abstract: xThe ideas of information theory are at present stimulating many different areas of psychological inquiry. In providing techniques for quantifying situations which have hitherto been difficult or impossible to quantify, they suggest new and more precise ways of conceptualizing these situations (see Miller [12] for a general discussion and bibliography). Events ordered in time are particularly amenable to informational analysis; thus language sequences are being extensively studied, and other sequences, such as those of music, plainly invite research. In this paper I shall indicate some of the ways in which the concepts and techniques of information theory may clarify our understanding of visual perception. When we begin to consider perception as an information-handling process, it quickly becomes clear that much of the information received by any higher organism is redundant. Sensory events are highly interdependent in both space and time: if we know at a given moment the states of a limited number of receptors (i.e., whether they are firing or not firing), we can make better-than-chance inferences with respect to the prior and subsequent states of these receptors, and also with respect to the present, prior, and subsequent states of other receptors. The preceding statement, taken in its broadest im1 The experimental work for this study was performed as part of the United States Air Force Human Resources Research and Development Program. The opinions and conclusions contained in this report are those of the author. They are not to be construed as reflecting the views or indorsement of the Department of the Air Force. plications, is precisely equivalent to an assertion that the world as we know it is lawful. In the present discussion, however, we shall restrict our attention to special types of lawfulness which may exist in space at a fixed time, and which seem particularly relevant to processes of visual perception.

2,800 citations

"Lateral inhibition and geometric il..." refers background or result in this paper

  • ...Recently von BCktsy (1967) and Ganz (1969) have attempted to explain the classical geometrical illusions in terms of lateral inhibitory processes occurring on the retina. Ganz argues that when two contours are imaged on spatially adjacent portions of the retina the resultant distributions of neural excitation mutually interact. The parts of the distributions which are closest to ridges of excitation would be more strongly inhibited than parts of the distribution which are farther away. Such a pattern of inhibitory action would result in mutual displacement of the means of the excitatory distributions. This should then result in a displacement of the apparent location of the contours. Von BCkCsy (1967) has shown that one such contour displacement effect which might be predicted from this theory is that acute angles should appear to be slightly more obtuse than they actually are. In addition, the apparent location of the vertex of the angle is found to be located at a point somewhat inside the angle. A series of such contour displacements could easily account for the Wundt, Hering, Muller-Lyer, Zollner or Poggendorff illusions. Some investigators have attempted to test the lateral inhibitory explanation of visual illusions by presenting one part of an illusion figure to one eye and the remainder to the other. Since the contours do not appear on the same retinas, the required neural processes have no opportunity to interact. The results of Ohwaki (1960), Springbett (1961), Day (1961), and Schiller and Weiner (1962), have been in general agreement....

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  • ...These two experiments taken together seem to indicate that contour interactions, such as those attributed to the operation of lateral inhibitory mechanisms, are not necessary for the existence of the classical geometrical illusions. These findings then, run contrary to the theoretical expectations of Ganz (1968) and Bkkhy (1967). The decrement in the magnitude of the illusions, when spatially adjacent contours are removed from the stimulus array, may indicate that lateral inhibitory influences contribute to the total illusion magnitude usually obtained, or it may simply be due to impoverishment of the stimulus and hence the attendant illusion cues. It seems reasonable, given the magnitude of some of the classical illusions, that they are caused by the interactions of several variables, rather than one dominant process. Gregory’s (1966) work has indicated that distortions in constancy scaling may account for some illusion figures....

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  • ...These two experiments taken together seem to indicate that contour interactions, such as those attributed to the operation of lateral inhibitory mechanisms, are not necessary for the existence of the classical geometrical illusions. These findings then, run contrary to the theoretical expectations of Ganz (1968) and Bkkhy (1967)....

    [...]

  • ...Recently von BCktsy (1967) and Ganz (1969) have attempted to explain the classical geometrical illusions in terms of lateral inhibitory processes occurring on the retina. Ganz argues that when two contours are imaged on spatially adjacent portions of the retina the resultant distributions of neural excitation mutually interact. The parts of the distributions which are closest to ridges of excitation would be more strongly inhibited than parts of the distribution which are farther away. Such a pattern of inhibitory action would result in mutual displacement of the means of the excitatory distributions. This should then result in a displacement of the apparent location of the contours. Von BCkCsy (1967) has shown that one such contour displacement effect which might be predicted from this theory is that acute angles should appear to be slightly more obtuse than they actually are....

    [...]

  • ...These two experiments taken together seem to indicate that contour interactions, such as those attributed to the operation of lateral inhibitory mechanisms, are not necessary for the existence of the classical geometrical illusions. These findings then, run contrary to the theoretical expectations of Ganz (1968) and Bkkhy (1967). The decrement in the magnitude of the illusions, when spatially adjacent contours are removed from the stimulus array, may indicate that lateral inhibitory influences contribute to the total illusion magnitude usually obtained, or it may simply be due to impoverishment of the stimulus and hence the attendant illusion cues....

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Journal Article•DOI•
Mechanism of the figural aftereffects

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Leo Ganz
01 Mar 1966-Psychological Review

162 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Eye movements and decrement in the Muller-Lyer illusion.

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Leon Festinger1, Charles W. White1, Mark R. Allyn1•
Stanford University1
01 Sep 1968-Attention Perception & Psychophysics
TL;DR: Two experiments are reported in which a decrement in the magnitude of the Müller-Lyer illusion was found if free eye movements were allowed and saccades across the perceptually short side of the Muller-Lyers figure were found to be shorter than across the perceived long side.
Abstract: Two experiments are reported in which a decrement in the magnitude of the Muller-Lyer illusion was found if free eye movements were allowed. Little or no decrement was obtained if Ss fixated one point of the figure during inspection. In one experiment eye movements were recorded. Saccades across the perceptually short side of the Muller-Lyer figure were found to be shorter than across the perceptually long side. After inspection with free eye movements, the saccades became more nearly equal on the two sides. Such changes in eye movements did not occur if Ss fixated one point during the inspection period. The data are interpreted in terms of perception being determined by the efferent readiness activated by visual input. According to this interpretation, the decrement in the magnitude of the illusion results from recalibration of the efferent programs.

100 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
The influence of optical aberrations on the magnitude of the Poggendorff illusion

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Stanley Coren1•
The New School1
01 May 1969-Attention Perception & Psychophysics
TL;DR: In this paper, the amount of blurring of the retinal image can be reduced by proper selection of an artificial pupil and a chromatic filter, and the magnitude of the reduction is smaller than would be expected if the illusion was predominantly determined by blur due to optical aberration.
Abstract: The amount of blurring of the retinal image can be reduced by proper selection of an artificial pupil and a chromatic filter. Reduction of the amount of blurring due to optical aberrations by viewing through a 1-mm artificial pupil and an interference filter in the eye, results in a concomitant reduction in the magnitude of the Poggendorff illusion. The magnitude of the reduction is smaller, however, than would be expected if the illusion was predominantly determined by blur due to optical aberration.

74 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Binocular and stereoscopic viewing of geometric illusions.

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Peter Schiller1, Morton Wiener1•
Clark University1
01 Dec 1962-Perceptual and Motor Skills
TL;DR: It is found that the reduction of illusions under stereoscopic conditions can be attributed to both binocular rivalry and depth perception of the stimuli, and Day concluded that the interpretations of Ohwaki and Springbett regarding the retinal origin of geometric illusions thus seem unjustified.
Abstract: In two recent experiments Ohwaki ( 1960) and Spr~ngbett (1961 ), extending the earlier work of Witasek (1899) and Lau ( 1922, 1925), showed that the illusory effect of geometric illusions is greatly reduced when they are shown stereoscopically, with the \"test\" element of the illusion shown to one eye and the \"inducing\" element shown to the other. Both Ohwaki and Springbett conclude from the results of their experiments that illusory effects can be attributed primarily to retinal rather than central processes. Boring (1961) and Day (1961) question the conclusions drawn by Ohwaki and Springbett. Boring notes that when two disparate stimuli are shown, one to each eye, resolution of such disparity often results in depth perception. It is likely that reduction of illusory effects under stereoscopic viewing can be attributed to the resolutions in depth rather than to retinal processes. Day considers an additional factor. He notes that binocular rivalry occurs when certain illusions are presented stereoscopically. In his srudy, repeating and extending Ohwaki's, Day found that the reduction of illusions under stereoscopic conditions can be attributed to both binocular rivalry and depth perception of the stimuli. However, since these rwo factors only reduce but generally do not eliminate the illusory effect, it is reasonable to assume that central processes must be operative in the perception of illusions. Day concluded that the interpretations of Ohwaki and Springbett regarding the retinal origin of geometric illusions thus seem unjustified. In light of the available evidence and reasoning, the relative contributions of retinal and central processes can more directly be evaluated by two means: (1) the elimination or reduction of retinal rivalry and depth effects, and ( 2 ) a psychophysical measurement of the magnitude of the illusions. As long as rivalry and depth effects are present in stereoscopic presentation of illusions, there is a confounding of variables, i.e., possible retinal processes in the illusory effect are confounded with binocular rivalry and depch effects. Furthermore, unless psychophysical methods are used, a precise evaluation of the magnitude of illusory effects is not possible. If a viewing situation could be established which would minimize binocular

64 citations

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