Components of the Mueller-Lyer figure, representing two levels of lightness contrast (1.5 black/ and 7.5 light grey/ each on 9.5 white/ ground) were viewed tachistoscopically for 500 msec. by 65 white elementary school children and 50 white college students. The contrast effect was significant, with black figures yielding a greater illusion than the light grey figures at all age levels. Further, a bimodal distribution of fundus density was evident in both age categories, with more densely pigmented Ss yielding smaller illusions.
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