Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Visualizing Visual Adaptation
Published on: April 24, 2017
The Munker-White effect and chromatic induction share similar nonlinear response properties
Yong-Jun Lin1, Chien-Chung Chen, Sarina Hui-Lin Chien
1Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract:
The brightness or color appearance of a region may be altered by the presence of a pattern surrounding it in the visual field. The Munker-White effect (grating surround) and brightness or color induction from concentric annuli ('bull's-eye' surround) are two examples. We examined whether these two phenomena share similar properties. In the asymmetric matching experiment, the task of an observer was to adjust the appearance of a matching patch to match the appearance of a test patch embedded in one of the two types (square wave grating or concentric annuli) of inducing surrounds (inducers). The inducer modulated in one of three color directions (isochromatic: +/-(L + M + S) and isoluminance: +/-(L - M) or +/-S). Each inducer type and color direction had two opposing phases and four contrast levels. The results show that the induced appearance shift increases as a power function of the inducer contrast, regardless of the spatial configuration of the inducer. Further analysis showed that a sensitivity modulation model of lateral interaction could explain both induction effects.
Related Concept Videos
Inductive Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview
Color Vision
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
Indicators
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Position-effect Variegation

