Blobs strengthen repetition but weaken symmetry

Abstract

The human visual system is more sensitive to symmetry than to repetition. According to the so-called holographic approach [J. Math. Psychol. 35 (1991) 151; Psychol. Rev. 103 (1996) 429; Psychol. Rev. 106 (1999) 622], however, this perceptual difference between symmetry and repetition depends strongly on spatial scaling. This was tested in three experiments, using symmetry and repetition stimuli that consisted of black and white patches, with patch size as the critical variable. In Experiment 1, patch size was increased in the entire pattern, yielding fewer but larger patches (or blobs). This is known to have hardly any effect on symmetry but, as found now, it does have a strengthening effect on repetition. In the second experiment, we increased patch size in subpatterns only, yielding salient blob areas. This again strengthens repetition but, as double-checked in experiment 3, it can weaken symmetry. These results agree with the holographic approach, and enable an integration of computational, algorithmic, and implementational aspects of vision.

Redundant Symmetry Influences Perceptual Grouping (as Measured by Rotational Linkage)

“…Symmetry detection on the other hand has been considered by van der Helm [2] to have a holographic structure in which the number of elements is irrelevant. Supporting evidence for this proposition, using blob stimuli, was reported by Csatho, van der Vloed and van der Helm [29]. Additionally, Baylis and Driver [30], using line stimuli more like those in the present study, found that the speed of symmetry detection for the two sides of a single object is not influenced by the complexity of the reflected contour.…”

The Influence of Perception on the Distribution of Multiple Symmetries in Nature and Art

“…For instance, qualitatively, the formal notion of holographic regularity seems to supply a perceptually relevant border between visual and nonvisual regularities [54], and also the holographic difference in structure between symmetry (point structure) and repetition (block structure) seems perceptually relevant [55]. Furthermore, the quantitative model W = E/N accounts for various perceptual differences between symmetry and repetition, including the fact that symmetry is better detectable than repetition, and it accounts for the detectability of symmetry in the presence of noise (for more details, see [21,26,49,51,56,57]). …”

Transparallel processing by hyperstrings

“…The transparent holographic character of these regularities has shown to be relevant in human symmetry perception (21)(22)(23)(24). It also gave rise to the concept of ''hyperstrings'' that, in this article, is presented as a key to the computation of guaranteed simplest SIT codes.…”

“…applied SIT to explain a variety of perceptual phenomena such as judged pattern complexity, pattern classification, neon effects, judged temporal order, assimilation and contrast, figure-ground organization, beauty, embeddedness, hierarchy, serial pattern segmentation and completion, and handedness. SIT started with a classification model, but nowadays it also contains comprehensive models of amodal completion (19,20) and symmetry perception (21)(22)(23)(24).…”