Behind the Looking-Glass: A Review on Human Symmetry Perception

Treder, Matthias S.

doi:10.3390/sym2031510

Cited by 158 publications

(161 citation statements)

References 121 publications

(210 reference statements)

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“…Psychologists measured that e.g. mirror symmetry is a very fast and important grouping mechanism for pictorial data in human observers, see (Sassi et al, 2014;Treder, 2010). In this paper we take the view that such grouping processes also contribute much to the understanding of urban patterns from remotely sensed images by human observers.…”

Section: Gestalt and Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Understanding Urban Patterns and Structures

Michaelsen

Gabler

Scherer‐Negenborn

2015

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:Intelligent urban design is a set of principles for desirable future urban structures. Existing urban structures can be analysed using remotely sensed images. In order to foster this analysis both in speed and objectivity automation is proposed in this work. Automatic Gestalt perception is distinguished from automatic knowledge-based analysis. Both will be required. For the Gestalt side an algebraic approach is utilized. This Gestalt algebra operates on a 6-D domain containing position, orientation, frequency, scale and assessment. It defines how to form aggregates from parts. Any Gestalt can be combined with arbitrary others, but good assessments are only achieved, if the parts are mutually in Gestalt-arrangements. There are operations for mirror-symmetry, good continuation in rows and rotational-symmetry. In this paper experiments are made only with mirror-symmetry and row-continuation. Example images of Thimphu, Bhutan and Phoenix, Arizona are obtained by use of Google Earth. The results are to a large degree in accordance with human perceptual grouping. Some illusory groupings not in accordance with human perception, as well as examples salient to humans which are not instantiated by the system, are discussed as well.

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Section: Gestalt and Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Understanding Urban Patterns and Structures

Michaelsen

Gabler

Scherer‐Negenborn

2015

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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“…The neural correlates of tactile symmetry detection in blind and sighted individuals is also reviewed in light of available knowledge on the neural underpinnings of visual symmetry detection. An in-depth discussion of models of visual symmetry detection is beyond the scope of this review, and it has already been covered in previous work (e.g., [1,15]). The experimental paradigms used across various studies will be described in general terms to ensure that results are understandable (the reader can find methodological details in the original empirical works).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Not only are human faces and bodies symmetric, but most other living organisms (such as animals, trees, flowers and crystals) have at least one axis of symmetry, as do manufactured items, such as tools and buildings (for a recent review, see [1]). Psychophysical experiments mainly employing simple shapes or dense dot patterns as stimuli have shown that symmetry can be detected extremely quickly (within a few tens of milliseconds) and in an automatic (i.e., not mediated by a conscious cognitive effort; see [1] for review), pre-attentive manner [2][3][4]. Symmetry acts as a grouping principle of perceptual organization [5]: elements sharing symmetry relations tend to be aggregated, thus facilitating figure-ground segregation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symmetry Detection in Visual Impairment: Behavioral Evidence and Neural Correlates

et al. 2014

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Bilateral symmetry is an extremely salient feature for the human visual system. An interesting issue is whether the perceptual salience of symmetry is rooted in normal visual development. In this review, we discuss empirical work on visual and tactile symmetry detection in normally sighted and visually impaired individuals. On the one hand, available evidence suggests that efficient visual symmetry detection may need normal binocular vision development. On the other hand, converging evidence suggests that symmetry can develop as a principle of haptic perceptual organization in individuals lacking visual experience. Certain features of visual symmetry detection, however, such as the higher salience of the patterns containing a vertical axis of symmetry, do not systematically apply to the haptic modality. The neural correlates (revealed with OPEN ACCESS Symmetry 2014, 6 428 neuroimaging) associated with visual and haptic symmetry detection are also discussed.

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“…It has long been postulated that vertical mirror symmetry at the point of fixation has a special status due to the corresponding bilateral symmetry in the human visual system [5,6]. Nevertheless, mirror symmetry detection is still possible with different symmetry axes and at locations throughout the visual field (for comprehensive reviews of the literature, see [7][8][9]). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peripheral Contour Grouping and Saccade Targeting: The Role of Mirror Symmetry

Sassi¹,

Demeyer²,

Wagemans³

2014

Symmetry

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Abstract:Integrating shape contours in the visual periphery is vital to our ability to locate objects and thus make targeted saccadic eye movements to efficiently explore our surroundings. We tested whether global shape symmetry facilitates peripheral contour integration and saccade targeting in three experiments, in which observers responded to a successful peripheral contour detection by making a saccade towards the target shape. The target contours were horizontally (Experiment 1) or vertically (Experiments 2 and 3) mirror symmetric. Observers responded by making a horizontal (Experiments 1 and 2) or vertical (Experiment 3) eye movement. Based on an analysis of the saccadic latency and accuracy, we conclude that the figure-ground cue of global mirror symmetry in the periphery has little effect on contour integration or on the speed and precision with which saccades are targeted towards objects. The role of mirror symmetry may be more apparent under natural viewing conditions with multiple objects competing for attention, where symmetric regions in the visual field can pre-attentively signal the presence of objects, and thus attract eye movements.

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Behind the Looking-Glass: A Review on Human Symmetry Perception

Cited by 158 publications

References 121 publications

Towards Understanding Urban Patterns and Structures

Towards Understanding Urban Patterns and Structures

Symmetry Detection in Visual Impairment: Behavioral Evidence and Neural Correlates

Peripheral Contour Grouping and Saccade Targeting: The Role of Mirror Symmetry

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