The tilt illusion: Length and luminance changes of induction line and third (disinhibiting) line

Abstract

Direct effects (acute-angle expansion) and indirect effects (acute angle contraction) aspects of the tilt illusion were reduced by reductions in the length as well as the luminance of the induction line, and also by the addition of a third line to the display. When this third (disinhibiting) line was also reduced in length and luminance, the reduction in the illusion became less and the illusion increased in magnitude. The illusion size was also changed by increasing the orientation difference between the disinhibiting line and the induction line. It is argued that these effects are mediated by (lateral) inhibition and disinhibition between mechanisms responsible for orientation coding in the visual system. © 1979 Psychonomic Society, Inc.