From an object-superiority effect to an object-inferiority effect with movement of the fixation point

The object-superiority effect (OSE) refers to the fact that target lines can be more accurately discerned when part of a cube-like, three-dimensional object context than when part of a flat, unconnected line context (Weisstein & Harris, 1974). Explanations of the OSE have been based on the assumption that it is the configurational properties of the object form, such as its three dimensionality, and coherence that are responsible for the effect. It is demonstrated that the OSE produced by stimuli such as those used by Weisstein and Harris does not depend exclusively on configurational variables. Evidence is presented that fixation-point location and the amount of line detail about the point of fixation are crucial.