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On Why Objects Appear Smaller in the Visual Periphery.

Wladimir Kirsch1, Roland Pfister1, Wilfried Kunde1

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Summary
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Objects appear smaller in your peripheral vision due to less spatial attention, not just visual system structure. This study shows attention significantly impacts perceived object size in the visual periphery.

Keywords:
attentionvisual perception

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Visual Perception

Background:

  • Objects in the visual periphery are typically perceived as smaller than those in the central visual field.
  • The underlying causes of this perceptual distortion are debated, with both visual system structure and attentional mechanisms implicated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the contribution of visuospatial attention to the perceived size distortion of objects in the visual periphery.
  • To determine if directing spatial attention influences the underestimation of peripheral object size.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted with 24 participants.
  • Participants judged the size of central and peripheral target objects.
  • A transient, exogenous cue directed attention to either central or peripheral locations before target presentation.

Main Results:

  • Peripheral target objects were judged as smaller when attention was directed centrally.
  • This size underestimation effect was eliminated when attention was directed to the peripheral target location.
  • Results indicate a significant role for spatial attention in peripheral size perception.

Conclusions:

  • The underestimation of object size in the visual periphery is influenced by the allocation of visuospatial attention.
  • Lack of spatial attention contributes to peripheral size distortion, alongside the visual system's structural properties.
  • Findings highlight the dynamic interplay between attention and perception in shaping visual experience.