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Updated: May 24, 2025
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Ebbinghaus illusion changes numerosity perception independent of density perception
Saki Takao1, Katsumi Watanabe2
1Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.
Vision Research
|March 5, 2025
Summary
The Ebbinghaus size illusion influences how many dots people perceive, even when dot density is constant. This suggests shared brain mechanisms for processing number and space.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Visual Perception
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Shared neural mechanisms for number and space processing are hypothesized.
- The Ebbinghaus illusion, typically affecting size perception, was investigated for its impact on numerosity perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if the stimulus configuration of the Ebbinghaus size illusion affects numerosity perception.
- To investigate the interaction between size and number perception in the visual system.
Main Methods:
- Visual stimuli were created with equated perceived densities for specific dot numbers and area sizes.
- Participants judged numerosity and perceived area size of dot displays surrounded by small or large inducing circles.
Main Results:
- Dots surrounded by small inducers appeared more numerous and occupied a larger spatial extent.
- Dots surrounded by large inducers appeared less numerous and occupied a smaller spatial extent.
- These effects occurred independently of perceived density.
Conclusions:
- Visual numerosity perception interacts with visual size perception.
- These interactions occur independently of the visual processes underlying perceived density.
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