Über die Perzeption illusionärer Konturierung durch Säuglinge

Subjective contours are characterized by two properties, illusory brightness and illusory contour or form. Unlike earlier experimental studies on the perception of subjective contours in infancy, the present investigation examined 7-month-olds' capability of extracting the phenomenon of illusory contour in a specific, dynamic Kanizsa square. This was realized by means of both a spontaneous preference test and a habituation-dishabituation experiment. Furthermore, it was tested whether an illusory and a real form are functionally equivalent. The findings do not prove the existence of such a functional equivalence in the participants. On the other hand, judging from the results of both the preference test and the dishabituation phase, one can conclude that sensitivity to an illusory contour is present in infants 7 months of age.