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Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Generating Strictly Controlled Stimuli for Figure Recognition Experiments
Published on: March 18, 2019
An attentional approach to geometrical illusions
Wladimir Kirsch1, Wilfried Kunde1
1Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Abstract:
It is known for a long time that some drawings composed of points, lines, and areas are systematically misperceived. The origin of these geometrical illusions is still unknown. Here we outline how a recent progress in attentional research contributes to a better understanding of such perceptual distortions. The basic idea behind this approach is that crucial elements of a drawing are differently attended. These changes in the allocation of spatial attention go along with systematic changes in low-level spatial coding. As a result, changes in the perception of spatial extent, angles, positions, and shapes can arise. How this approach can be applied to individual illusions is discussed.
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