Do illiterates have illusions? A conceptual (non)replication of Luria (1976)

Abstract Luria (Luria, Cognitive development: Its cultural and social foundations, Harvard University Press, 1976) famously observed that people who never learnt to read write do not perceive visual illusions. We conducted a conceptual replication of the study effect literacy on processing designed two carefully controlled experiments with 161 participants varying levels ranging from complete illiterates high literates in Chennai, India. Accuracy reaction time identification shape color illusions appropriate control images were measured. Separate statistical analyses Experiments 1 2 as well pooled both provide any support for notion affects perception Our large sample, strongly suggests does meaningfully affect raises some questions about other reports effects illusion perception.