Factors Involved in Visual Capture

Abstract

Visual capture was explored using three types of vision-“touch” conflicts. The results indicated that the amount of visual capture differed for the three tasks. In one task (slant judgments) strong, but incomplete, visual capture occurred, in another (a length judgment task) an approximate compromise between the two modalities was found, and in the third task (texture judgments) a trend toward touch capture occurred. In two additional experiments using the slant task, the effects of brief training with one of the competing modalities and the effects of manipulating certain aspects of the stimulus display were explored. The brief training did not alter the resolution of the conflict but varying visual clarity and felt texture of the rod whose slant was being judged did affect visual capture.