Illusory conjunctions are an illusion: The effects of target-nontarget similarity on conjunction and feature errors

The results of previous studies on visual perception suggest that conjuncti on errors partly derive from imperfect binding of correctly perceived featu res. However, the paradigms used in these studies do not generally allow on e to discriminate between errors of feature binding and errors of target-no ntarget confusion. In Experiments 1-4, an altered paradigm was used enablin g discrimination between errors of feature binding and errors of target-non target confusion. The results showed that conjunction errors between color and identity do not derive from imperfect binding. In Experiments 5 and 6, a typical mainstream paradigm was used. The results indicated that, in such a paradigm, data patterns suggesting the existence of illusory conjunction s are likely to be due to errors of target-nontarget confusion instead of i mperfect feature binding.