Philosophy Faculty Database
Philosophy
Arts & Sciences
Duke University

 HOME > Arts & Sciences > Philosophy > Faculty    Search Help Login pdf version printable version 

Publications [#268422] of Dale Purves

Duke :: Philosophy :: Faculty :: Dale Purves

Papers Published

  1. Purves, D; Shimpi, A; Lotto, RB, An empirical explanation of the cornsweet effect., The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, vol. 19 no. 19 (October, 1999), pp. 8542-8551 [10493754], [doi].
    (last updated on 2023/06/01)

    Abstract:
    A long-standing puzzle in vision is the assignment of illusory brightness values to visual territories based on the characteristics of their edges (the Craik-O'Brien-Cornsweet effect). Here we show that the perception of the equiluminant territories flanking the Cornsweet edge varies according to whether these regions are more likely to be similarly illuminated surfaces having the same material properties or unequally illuminated surfaces with different properties. Thus, if the likelihood is increased that these territories are surfaces with similar reflectance properties under the same illuminant, the Craik-O'Brien-Cornsweet effect is diminished; conversely, if the likelihood is increased that the adjoining territories are differently reflective surfaces receiving different amounts of illumination, the effect is enhanced. These findings indicate that the Craik-O'Brien-Cornsweet effect is determined by the relative probabilities of the possible sources of the luminance profiles in the stimulus.


Duke University * Arts & Sciences * Philosophy * Faculty * Staff * Grad * Reload * Login