Abstract
Patterned chromatic backgrounds can induce larger color shifts than uniform background (Monnier & Shevell, 2003). However, whether large color shifts can be induced by physically presented but perceptually unawared patterned backgrounds remains an open question. RATIONALE: If the color appearance of an object depends on the perceived rather than physical backgrounds, a color shift should not occur when the chromatic-inducing backgrounds are presented but not perceived. METHODS: The object was a partial letter ‘S’ made of horizontal stripes. The chromatic-inducing pattern was composed of interlacing lime and purple horizontal stripes occupying complementary retinal locations. A mirror stereoscope was used for dichoptical stimulus presentation. The experimental conditions were: (1) the purple stripes and the ‘S’ embedded in the stripes were presented to one eye and the lime stripes to the other eye; (2) the ‘S’ and the interlacing purple and lime stripes were presented to one eye and a blank to the other eye; (3) the ‘S’ and the purple stripes were presented to one eye and a blank to the other eye. Observers’ tasks were: (a) matching color appearance to the ‘S’; (b) reporting the perceived layout of the stimuli. RESULTS: (i) The color shift induced by condition (1) was no less than that induced by condition (2) and was significantly larger than that induced by condition (3); (ii) the purple and lime stripes of condition (1) were perceived to be completely overlapping, rather than interlacing. The results show that even when the interlacing pattern was not perceived, a significant chromatic induction could still occur. These findings suggest that the color appearance of an object depends on the physical presence of the chromatic-inducing backgrounds, but does not necessarily rely on the perceived backgrounds.
Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2013