August 2014
Volume 14, Issue 10
Free
Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting Abstract  |   August 2014
Context Effects on Figure-Ground Perception with Both Convexity and Extremal Edge Cues
Author Affiliations
  • Katharina Mura
    University of Kaiserslautern, Germany
  • Tandra Ghose
    University of Kaiserslautern, Germany
  • Mary A. Peterson
    University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
Journal of Vision August 2014, Vol.14, 254. doi:https://doi.org/10.1167/14.10.254
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Katharina Mura, Tandra Ghose, Mary A. Peterson; Context Effects on Figure-Ground Perception with Both Convexity and Extremal Edge Cues . Journal of Vision 2014;14(10):254. https://doi.org/10.1167/14.10.254.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Convexity context effects (CCEs) have been demonstrated in figure-ground perception, where the figural bias of convexity increases from 57%-89% as the number of alternating convex and concave regions increases from 2 to 8 in 100-ms displays (Peterson & Salvagio, 2008). In 2-Region displays Ghose and Palmer (2010) found that when convexity conflicted with Extremal Edges (EE), the EE-side was perceived as closer on ~98% of trials (2000-ms exposures). We examined whether CCEs are obtained when convexity and EE cooperate (Congruent condition) or conflict (Incongruent condition). Observers reported whether a red probe located on the region to the left or right of a central border appeared to lie on the region they perceived as figure or ground; they were instructed that figures were both shaped and closer near the border. Convex regions were perceived as figures more often in 8-Region (92%) than 2-Region (77%) Congruent displays, p<.0001. Thus, EE benefits from context when combined with convexity. In contrast, convex regions were not perceived as figures more often in 8-Region (45%) than 2-Region (37%) Incongruent displays (p=0.089). Thus, when EE and convexity conflict, neither benefits from context. EE regions were perceived as figures on the majority of trials with Incongruent 2-Region displays (70%), replicating Ghose and Palmer, yet our observers perceived EE regions as figures less often than their observers perceived them as closer. Task or exposure duration differences may contribute to this result. A novel factor that affected 2-Region displays only also contributes: EE regions were less likely to be perceived as figure when they lay on the right (56%) versus left (84%) of the central border (p<.0001). We attribute this new finding to an influence on EE from a light-from-left bias that was overcome by context in 8-Region displays. Figure assignment is a complex interaction among a variety of cues.

Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2014

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×