Measures of Subjective Variables in Visual Cognition
Abstract
A series of 10 experiments examined the subjective variables involved in the perceptual organization of shapes and objects; in particular, the role played by (1) perceptual intentions, (2) structural knowledge, and (3) spatial attention. A series of experiments identified functional consequences of structural knowledge in both perception and imagery and functional differences between the two types of perceptual selectivity we examined. We found that (1) prototypical shapes are perceived faster than quasitypical shapes (the goodness of the set between structural representations and these two types of shapes was assumed to differ), (2) structural knowledge regarding shape components is a necessary requirement for imagery reversal, (3) perceptual intentions are more effective when directed to prototypical rather than nonprototypical shapes, implicating structural knowledge as a mechanism through which perceptual intentions operate, and (4) spatial attention can be directed to parts of objects whereas perceptual intentions may operate holistically. In addition, the experiments provided some evidence that multiple shap representations are activated prior to shape recognition, and led to a new model of figure-ground organization. (kt)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA215084
Entities
People
- Mary A Peterson
Organizations
- University of Arizona