Abstract
Aim. Previously we reported that the relative rotation speeds of an ambiguous Necker cube and the context figure that triggered its reversals was not important for the strength of correlation between the two objects’ reversals. Here we examine whether their relative positions are important. Method. The context figure was an unambiguous skeleton cube that rotated at the same speed as the ambiguous Necker cube. The two figures were presented on either side of a fixation cross at 2.86 degrees of eccentricity, along the horizontal (0,180 deg), vertical (90, 270 deg) and diagonal (45, 135, 225, 315 deg) axes that connected the figures. Observers indicated via button press the direction of rotation of the Necker cube during each 32s trial. The data was subject to a type of reverse correlation analysis to establish the correlation between the motion reversals of the context and Necker cube. Results. Strongest contextual influences were observed when the context figure was directly below the Necker cube. Conclusion. These results are consistent with the idea that perceived frictional relationships are important for the perception of rotating reversible figures.
Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015