Visual illusion and figural aftereffect in relation to field dependence

Abstract

Immergluck has demonstrated that field-independent Ss show larger FAE and smaller illusions than field-dependent Ss. Some criticisms of these findings and Immergluck’s replies are discussed. It is suggested that the frequency measures of FAE employed by these studies are particularly prone to nonvisual response effects. An experiment is reported in which magnitudes of illusion and FAE size effects are found to be inversely related to each other but not related to field dependence. The field-dependence relationship described by Immergluck may be predominantly a response effect rather than a perceptual effect.