The Effect of Extraneous Elements Surrounding a Kanizsa-Like Illusory-Figure Pattern

Perception ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1093-1097
Author(s):  
Theodore E Parks

A display in which a Kanizsa-like illusory-figure pattern of three notched circles was accompanied by several other notched circles was found to be relatively ineffective, thus confirming an important, but previously untested, suggestion. This ineffectiveness may have been due to a strengthened tendency of the visual system perceptually to ‘explain’ each edge of each of the three critical notches as belonging to one of the partial circles themselves, thus tending to preclude any other (ie illusory) ‘explanation’ of those edges.

Perception ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 26 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 321-321
Author(s):  
F Purghé

A simple and convincing way of explaining illusory figures is based upon the idea that the visual system would infer the presence of an occluding object when the inducing pattern shows features, such as indentations or interruptions, that can be logically explained as due to an occlusion. This kind of explanation implies (a) that an illusory figure should be prevented from occurring if there is no logical need for it, and (b) that the illusory figure must be opaque to be effective as an occluding object. It can be shown, however, that illusory figures can emerge even when there is contrary evidence to occlusion. A special kind of stereoscopic Kanizsa-like pattern superimposed onto a picture (an Escher engraving) is capable of inducing clear illusory figures (two rectangles). In this pattern, the illusory figures seem to be transparent with respect to the picture on the background, which remains fully visible through them, but act as opaque surfaces with respect to the inducers. The inducers are parts of a Necker cube which can be clearly seen only when its fragments induce the illusory rectangles, but disappears if the same fragments, being only outlined, are not able to induce them. If this outcome can be regarded as a demonstration that the Necker cube can be seen as an amodally completed object only when it virtually completes itself ‘behind’ the illusory rectangles, one would have to conclude that the same illusory surfaces can be transparent and opaque at the same time. This paradoxical result seems to challenge any interpretation of illusory figures as being due to an intelligent solution to a cognitive problem.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson Chengetanai ◽  
Adhil Bhagwandin ◽  
Mads F. Bertelsen ◽  
Therese Hård ◽  
Patrick R. Hof ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Klaus-Ruediger Peters

Differential hysteresis processing is a new image processing technology that provides a tool for the display of image data information at any level of differential contrast resolution. This includes the maximum contrast resolution of the acquisition system which may be 1,000-times higher than that of the visual system (16 bit versus 6 bit). All microscopes acquire high precision contrasts at a level of <0.01-25% of the acquisition range in 16-bit - 8-bit data, but these contrasts are mostly invisible or only partially visible even in conventionally enhanced images. The processing principle of the differential hysteresis tool is based on hysteresis properties of intensity variations within an image.Differential hysteresis image processing moves a cursor of selected intensity range (hysteresis range) along lines through the image data reading each successive pixel intensity. The midpoint of the cursor provides the output data. If the intensity value of the following pixel falls outside of the actual cursor endpoint values, then the cursor follows the data either with its top or with its bottom, but if the pixels' intensity value falls within the cursor range, then the cursor maintains its intensity value.


1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Umiltà ◽  
Francesca Simion ◽  
Eloisa Valenza

Four experiments were aimed at elucidating some aspects of the preference for facelike patterns in newborns. Experiment 1 showed a preference for a stimulus whose components were located in the correct arrangement for a human face. Experiment 2 showed a preference for stimuli that had optimal sensory properties for the newborn visual system. Experiment 3 showed that babies directed their attention to a facelike pattern even when it was presented simultaneously with a non-facelike stimulus with optimal sensory properties. Experiment 4 showed the preference for facelike patterns in the temporal hemifield but not in the nasal hemifield. It was concluded that newborns' preference for facelike patterns reflects the activity of a subcortical system which is sensitive to the structural properties of the stimulus.


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