The filled-space illusion induced by a single-dot distractor.

Abstract

In the present study, we tested the ability of our computational model of the filled‑space illusion to account for data collected in experiments with stimuli comprising single‑dot distractors. In three sets of experiments, we investigated this illusory effect as a function of distance between the distractor and lateral terminator of the reference spatial interval of the three‑dot stimulus. We found that the model calculations properly predicted all of the observed changes in magnitude of the illusion for stimuli with a single distracting dot placed both within and outside the interval, as well as, for stimuli with two distractors arranged symmetrically relative to the lateral terminator. To additionally test the model, in a fourth set of experiments we performed psychophysical examination of the conventional Oppel‑Kundt stimulus with a different number of equally spaced dots subdividing the filled part. Adequate correspondence between the computational and experimental data supports our assumptions concerning the origin of the filled‑space illusion.