Cite as:
Harris J P, Gregory R L, 1973, "Fusion and rivalry of illusory contours" Perception 2(2) 235 – 247
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Fusion and rivalry of illusory contours

J P Harris, R L Gregory

Received 7 November 1973

Abstract. The general question is raised: "Are visual contours given directly from striate-cortex feature-detector activity?" Phenomena of 'subjective' or 'cognitive' contours are examined to challenge this view, on the ground that contours can be extrapolations across low-probability gaps. The contours may be curved and may have poor 'gestalt' qualities -- so 'gestalt closure' is not appropriate, but may be a sub-class of these phenomena. It is suggested that these illusory contours (and brightness differences) are generated by perceptually postulated masking objects -- these being part of perceptual 'scene analysis strategy', since strong evidence for nearer objects is provided by improbable gaps.

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