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Changes in the size of attentional focus modulate the apparent object's size.
Wladimir Kirsch1, Bastian Heitling1, Wilfried Kunde1
1Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
Vision Research
|November 6, 2018
Summary
Focusing attention on a small area expands perceived space nearby. However, increasing the size of this attentional focus shrinks the apparent size of objects within it, offering new insights into attention and visual perception.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Visual Perception Science
Background:
- Prior studies indicated that small spatial attention foci enlarge adjacent areas.
- The precise impact of attentional focus size on object perception remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how varying the size of an attentional focus influences perceived object size.
- To determine if the previously observed spatial expansion effect applies to object size perception.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted to systematically manipulate the size of attentional foci (small vs. large).
- Participants' perception of object size was measured under different attentional conditions.
Main Results:
- A larger attentional focus consistently led to a decrease in the perceived size of objects.
- This finding contrasts with the spatial expansion effect reported for adjacent areas.
Conclusions:
- The size of the attentional focus significantly modulates perceived object size.
- Attention's effect on appearance is complex and depends on the scale of the attentional field.