Lightness constancy: ratio invariance and luminance profile

SORANZO, Alessandro, GALMONDE, Alessandro and AGOSTINI, Tiziano (2009). Lightness constancy: ratio invariance and luminance profile. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 71 (3), 463-470.

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Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.3758/APP.71.3.463
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Abstract

The term simultaneous lightness constancy describes the capacity of the visual system to perceive equal reflecting surfaces as having the same lightness despite lying in different illumination fields. In some cases, however, a lightness constancy failure occurs; that is, equal reflecting surfaces appear different in lightness when differently illuminated. An open question is whether the luminance profile of the illumination edges affects simultaneous lightness constancy even when the ratio invariance property of the illumination edges is preserved. To explore this issue, we ran two experiments by using bipartite illumination displays. Both the luminance profile of an illumination edge and the luminance ratio amplitude between the illumination fields were manipulated. Results revealed that the simultaneous lightness constancy increases when the luminance profile of the illumination edge is gradual (rather than sharp) and homogeneous (rather than inhomogeneous), whereas it decreases when the luminance ratio between the illumination fields is enlarged. The results are interpreted according to the layer decomposition schema, stating that the visual system splits the luminance into perceived lightness and apparent illumination components. We suggest that illumination edges having gradual and homogeneous luminance profiles facilitate the luminance decomposition process, whereas wide luminance ratios impede it.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: The final publication is available at www.springerlink.com
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Psychology Research Group
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.3758/APP.71.3.463
Page Range: 463-470
Depositing User: Alessandro Soranzo
Date Deposited: 25 Sep 2012 10:39
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 05:01
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/6131

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