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Illusory shrinkage of objects under backward masking
Sae Kaneko1, Stuart Anstis2, Patrick Cavanagh3
1Department of Psychology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
I-Perception
|December 10, 2024
Summary
Backward masking, a visual phenomenon, can reduce target visibility. When not fully effective, this masking also shrinks the perceived size of visible targets, revealing new perceptual effects.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Backward masking is a well-established visual phenomenon.
- It is known to significantly reduce or eliminate target visibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of partially effective backward masking on target perception.
- To determine if incomplete masking influences attributes beyond visibility, such as perceived size.
Main Methods:
- Presenting visual targets under varying degrees of backward masking.
- Measuring target visibility and perceived size under experimental conditions.
Main Results:
- When backward masking was not fully effective, targets remained visible.
- Visible targets experienced a significant reduction in perceived size due to the masking stimulus.
Conclusions:
- Partial backward masking has a dual effect: it reduces visibility and alters perceived size.
- This suggests that masking influences multiple aspects of visual object representation, not just detection.
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