Orientation and color processing for partially occluded objects

The McCollough orientation-contingent color aftereffect could be equally well elicited by either a full test pattern of black and white stripes or a similar test pattern that was largely occluded by white surfaces, provided the latter stripes were made to appear as through continuing under the white surfaces--by means of stereo depth cues. The color aftereffect appeared concentrated around the edges of the stripes that protruded out from under the white surfaces; surfaces that themselves continued to appear a uniform white as shown by color matches. These results suggest that occluded, perceptually-continued edges can elicit the McCollough effect, which is generally thought to occur quite early in the visual pathway.