Blobs strengthen repetition but weaken symmetry

The human visual system is more sensitive to symmetry than to repetition. According to the so-called holographic approach [J. Math. Psychol. 35 (1991) 151; Psychol. Rev. 103 (1996) 429; Psychol. Rev. 106 (1999) 622], however, this perceptual difference between symmetry and repetition depends strongl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vision research (Oxford) 2003-04, Vol.43 (9), p.993-1007
Main Authors: Csathó, Árpád, van der Vloed, Gert, van der Helm, Peter A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Algorithms
Biological and medical sciences
Computer Graphics
Detection
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Holographic regularity
Humans
Male
Models, Psychological
Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology
Perception
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychophysics
Repetition
Spatial frequency
Symmetry
Vision
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Summary:The human visual system is more sensitive to symmetry than to repetition. According to the so-called holographic approach [J. Math. Psychol. 35 (1991) 151; Psychol. Rev. 103 (1996) 429; Psychol. Rev. 106 (1999) 622], however, this perceptual difference between symmetry and repetition depends strongly on spatial scaling. This was tested in three experiments, using symmetry and repetition stimuli that consisted of black and white patches, with patch size as the critical variable. In Experiment 1, patch size was increased in the entire pattern, yielding fewer but larger patches (or blobs). This is known to have hardly any effect on symmetry but, as found now, it does have a strengthening effect on repetition. In the second experiment, we increased patch size in subpatterns only, yielding salient blob areas. This again strengthens repetition but, as double-checked in experiment 3, it can weaken symmetry. These results agree with the holographic approach, and enable an integration of computational, algorithmic, and implementational aspects of vision.
ISSN:0042-6989
1878-5646
DOI:10.1016/S0042-6989(03)00073-7