Abstract

Boundary extension is a memory distortion where individuals recall a scene as encompassing a broader area than was originally perceived. Recent studies have shown that boundary contraction, where a narrower area is remembered, is also a common phenomenon. Both types of boundary transformations are systematically influenced by scene properties. However, the cognitive mechanisms through which scene properties induce boundary transformations remain largely unexplored. It has been suggested that scene properties influence boundary transformations by guiding visual attention, but empirical evidence that supports this idea is limited. To address this gap, the current study investigated how scene properties and visual attention interact to influence boundary transformations by manipulating both top-down and bottom-up attention. In Experiment 1, top-down attention was directed toward either objects or backgrounds of a scene. However, no significant effects of attention on boundary transformations were observed. In contrast, Experiment 2 revealed that boundary transformations were significantly influenced by bottom-up attention. Specifically, when attention was directed toward the center of the scene, boundary extension increased, while attention directed toward the periphery increased boundary contraction. Moreover, object-related properties interacted with the direction of bottom-up attention, further modulating boundary transformations. These results suggest that scene properties influence boundary transformations by modulating visual attention. The current study extends the existing theories of boundary transformation that rely on stimulus-level explanations by uncovering the role of cognitive mechanisms.