Work

Perception of the Ebbinghaus illusion in 5‐ to 8‐month‐old infants

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: The Ebbinghaus illusion is a geometric illusion based on a size‐contrast between a central circle and surrounding circles. A central circle surrounded by small inducing circles is perceived as being larger than a central circle surrounded by large inducing circles. In the present study we investigated 5‐ to 8‐month‐old infants' perception of the Ebbinghaus illusion using a preferential‐looking paradigm. We measured the preference between a central circle surrounded by small inducing circles (overestimated figure) and a central circle surrounded by large inducing circles (underestimated figure). Infants showed a significant preference for the overestimated figure when the central circle was flashing, but not when it was static. Furthermore, there was no preference between the two figures when the central circles were removed. These results suggest that infants' preference reflects their perception of the size illusion of the central circle. There is a possibility that 5‐ to 8‐month‐old infants perceive the Ebbinghaus illusion.

Source: Japanese Psychological Research

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5884.2009.00420.x

Authors: YUKA YAMAZAKI, YUMIKO OTSUKA, SO KANAZAWA, MASAMI K. YAMAGUCHI

Institutions: Japan Science and Technology Agency, Chuo University, Japan Women's University

Language: English

Topic: Visual perception and processing mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society

Award: G5496568012