Crowding does not improve precision

In crowding, target perception deteriorates in the presence of flankers, i.e., performance with flankers is worse than in a target only condition. However, a recent study by Cicchini et al. (2022) suggests that “crowding improves overall performance” compared to the target alone condition through optimal integration of target and flanker features, i.e., a ‘superiority’ effect. Here, we attempted to replicate their findings using the original paradigm. Participants reproduced the orientation of an oval target, which was presented either in isolation or flanked by ovals of varying orientations. In Cicchini et al., performance in the flanked conditions was superior compared to the target alone condition for almost all orientation differences between the target and flankers. With the very same paradigm, we could not reproduce their results: the target alone condition resulted in best performance. When the flankers and target shared the same orientation or differed by 90°, performance was comparable to that in the target alone condition, with deterioration observed for intermediate orientation differences. Therefore, our data falsify the optimal integration model proposed by Cicchini et al. to explain crowding and its alleged benefits.