Representational momentum and memory for luminance

Representational momentum (RM) is a distortion in memory for the final position of an object in the direction implied by a set of discrete inducing displays (J. J. Freyd, 1987; J. J. Freyd & R. A. Finke, 1984). The effect has been shown under a wide variety of circumstances, which has led to assertions that it is a general enough phenomenon to extend to virtually any dimension of change. It is reported here that decisions about luminance seem not to be subject to RM. Instead, a robust effect in the direction opposite to that predicted by the RM hypothesis was observed. It is argued that RM might be more usefully considered limited to dimensions of change correlated with motion in the real world, and some initial hypotheses as to the nature of the mechanism underlying this new luminance effect are presented.