Urban experience alters lightness perception

Karina Linnell, Andrew Bremner, Serge Caparos, Jules Davidoff, Jan De Fockert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
278 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We present the first empirical evidence that experience alters lightness perception. The role of experience in lightness perception was investigated through a cross-cultural comparison of 2 visual contrast phenomena: simultaneous lightness contrast and White’s illusion. The Himba, a traditional seminomadic group known to have a local bias in perception, showed enhanced simultaneous lightness contrast but reduced White’s illusion compared with groups that have a more global perceptual style: Urban-dwelling Himba and Westerners. Thus, experience of the urban environment alters lightness perception and we argue it does this by fostering the tendency to integrate information from across the visual scene.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2–6
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance
Volume44
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jan 2018

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Urban experience alters lightness perception'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this