If the central processes responsible for figural aftereffects derive exclusively from peripheral events, then the phenomenal status of a contour should not affect the figural aftereffect it produces. If the central processes also modify the consequences of the peripheral events, an alteration of the figural aftereffect might result. 44 college student Ss were tested in a figural aftereffect displacement paradigm in which the inspection figure contained a centrally fixated uniform contour, phenomenally dichotomized into figure and ground halves by a biased center contour. Control conditions for prefixation judgments and for methodological artifacts were included. At better than the .05 level a differential aftereffect was shown to exist. The results were interpreted as indicating the necessity of examining the role played by central processes in contour perception.
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