We examined how the strength of the Poggendorff illusion changes with age in typically developing children. To this end, we recruited children aged 6 to 14 years and quantified the degree to which they experienced the illusion. The illusion was strongest in the youngest children and decreased with age logarithmically—reaching adult levels (as established by an earlier study) by 21.6 years, as determined by nonlinear interpolation. We also measured the ability to align two lines together in a nonillusory condition, receptive language, and abstract reasoning to determine whether changes in illusion strength were also associated with these factors. Alignment-matching abilities, receptive language, and abstract reasoning increased with age. However, only receptive language and abstract reasoning were correlated with illusion strength. Abilities in alignment matching were not related to illusion strength and reached adult levels (as established by a previous study) earlier at 14.7 years, as determined by nonlinear interpolation. A multiple regression analysis further revealed that receptive language and abstract reasoning did not contribute beyond their shared variance with age. Based on these findings, we suggest that the illusion is exaggerated in early development and attenuates as low-level and high-level processes mature. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

我们研究了 Poggendorff 错觉的强度如何随着典型发育儿童的年龄而变化。为此，我们招募了 6 至 14 岁的儿童，并量化了他们体验错觉的程度。这种错觉在最年幼的孩子中最为强烈，并且随着年龄的增长呈对数下降——通过非线性插值确定，在 21.6 岁时达到成人水平（如早期研究确定的那样）。我们还测量了在非幻觉条件下将两条线对齐的能力、接受性语言和抽象推理，以确定幻觉强度的变化是否也与这些因素相关。对齐匹配能力、接受性语言和抽象推理随着年龄的增长而增加。然而，只有接受性语言和抽象推理与幻觉强度相关。对齐匹配的能力与错觉强度无关，并在 14.7 岁时达到成人水平（如先前研究确定的那样），这是由非线性插值确定的。多元回归分析进一步表明，接受性语言和抽象推理的贡献超出了他们与年龄的共同差异。基于这些发现，我们认为这种错觉在早期发展中被夸大了，并随着低级和高级进程的成熟而减弱。讨论了这些发现的理论意义。多元回归分析进一步表明，接受性语言和抽象推理的贡献超出了他们与年龄的共同差异。基于这些发现，我们认为这种错觉在早期发展中被夸大了，并随着低级和高级进程的成熟而减弱。讨论了这些发现的理论意义。多元回归分析进一步表明，接受性语言和抽象推理的贡献超出了他们与年龄的共同差异。基于这些发现，我们认为这种错觉在早期发展中被夸大了，并随着低级和高级进程的成熟而减弱。讨论了这些发现的理论意义。