Abstract
What characterizes the processing difference between regions that are segregated into figure and ground? Only one of the adjacent regions “owns” the contour, and that region (the figure) is seen to be in front, while the ground continues amodally behind. Here it is proposed that the same Gestalt cues that that bias figure/ground segregation (such as surroundedness, meaningfulness, and convexity) also act to spread attention to the figural side of the contour. The present experiments demonstrate that processing in the figural region is enhanced, which indicates a preferential allocation of attentional resources. The general method used was a presentation of a two adjacent regions, followed by a variable SOA to a target in one of the regions. It was found that in both reaction time and discrimination measures, processing was improved on the region biased to be perceived as figure over the region biased to be perceived as ground. Factors tested to date include surroundedness and meaningfulness.