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Chromatic induction and retinal image motion
Y Howard Li1, Michele Rucci1, Borja Aguado2
1Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
Perception
|January 7, 2026
Summary
Eye movements across scenes may influence perceived color. This study found that altering retinal image motion at borders did not significantly change perceived color, suggesting chromatic induction isn't driven by overestimating contrast during eye drifts.
Area of Science:
- Visual perception
- Neuroscience
- Color science
Background:
- Adjacent colors influence a surface's apparent color, a phenomenon known as chromatic induction.
- Eye movements cause borders to shift across the retina, potentially altering light exposure and perceived contrast.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether retinal image motion, driven by eye movements, contributes to chromatic induction.
- To determine if manipulating the extent of border shifts across the retina affects perceived color.
Main Methods:
- Conducted two experiments manipulating artificial increases and decreases in retinal image motion at surface borders.
- Measured the influence of these manipulations on the perceived color of surfaces.
Main Results:
- Neither increasing nor decreasing the extent of border shift across the retina had a significant impact on perceived color.
- The perceived color remained largely unchanged despite alterations in retinal image motion.
Conclusions:
- Chromatic induction does not appear to arise from overestimating contrast between adjacent surfaces due to small eye movements.
- Retinal image motion's role in chromatic induction, if any, is minimal or operates through mechanisms other than contrast overestimation.
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