Fractal image perception provides novel insights into hierarchical cognition

Martins, Maurício; Fischmeister, Florian Ph. S.; Puig-Waldmüller, Estela; Oh, Jinook; Geißler, Alexander; Robinson, Simon; Fitch, W. Tecumseh; Beisteiner, Roland

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.03.064

Cited by 45 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Recent research from our laboratory has also shown that visual recursion does not activate the classical language areas in the brain (Martins, Fischmeister, et al, 2014), that grammar development in children does not specifically correlate with visual recursion (Martins, Laaha, et al, 2014), and that verbal memory content does not interfere with visual recursion (Martins, 2014). Taken together, these results suggest that visual recursion might be independent from language.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…However, we found these tasks were dissociated in a number of ways: (1) in Experiment 2 we have shown that only EIT is correlated with spatial working memory (even when the variance explained by VRT is taken into account); (2) in Experiment 3, we have shown that performance in VRT is specifically sensitive to the complexity of relations between hierarchical levels, demonstrating that these hierarchical relations are being processed. Furthermore, while in VRT participants reject more accurately "repetition" foils, in EIT they reject more accurately "positional" foils; (3) in Experiment 4, we have shown that VRT, but not EIT, correlates with Tower of Hanoi (even when the variance explained by EIT is taken into account); (4) Finally, in subsequent experiments, we have shown that VRT and EIT activate different brain circuits: while EIT activates the classical visuospatial dorsal stream ("where" information), VRT specifically activates the ventral stream ("what" information), posterior cingulate, medial frontal cortex, and medial temporal lobe, which strongly suggests the latter task taps more into episodic and semantic memory resources, and less on procedural systems (Martins, Fischmeister, et al, 2014). These brain imaging results are coherent with the behavioral data reported here.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Recently, research within our laboratory suggests that visual fractals might also be processed using different strategies, depending on whether recursive or non-recursive representations are primed (Martins, Fischmeister, et al, 2014;Martins, Laaha, Freiberger, Choi, & Fitch, 2014). Not only are specific neural systems active during recursive representations (Martins, Fischmeister, et al, 2014), but there also seems to be a change in visual processing strategies that correlates with ontogenetic development, and with amount of exposure to examples of fractals (Martins, Laaha, et al, 2014).…”

Section: Hierarchical Processing In the Visual Domainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Not only are specific neural systems active during recursive representations (Martins, Fischmeister, et al, 2014), but there also seems to be a change in visual processing strategies that correlates with ontogenetic development, and with amount of exposure to examples of fractals (Martins, Laaha, et al, 2014). How these strategies relate with local or global biases is an exciting topic of ongoing research.…”

Section: Hierarchical Processing In the Visual Domainmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A novel approach to investigate recursion and iteration in visual hierarchical processing

Martins

Martins²,

Fitch

2015

Behav Res

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We describe a new method to explore recursive cognition in the visual domain. We define recursion as the ability to represent multiple hierarchical levels using the same rule, entailing the ability to generate new levels beyond those previously encountered. With this definition recursion can be distinguished from general hierarchical embedding. To investigate this recursion/hierarchy distinction in the visual domain, we developed two novel methods: The Visual Recursion Task (VRT), in which an inferred rule is used to represent new hierarchical levels, and the Embedded Iteration Task (EIT), in which additional elements are added to an existing hierarchical level. We found that adult humans can represent recursion in the visuo-spatial domain, and that this ability is distinct from both general intelligence and the ability to represent iterative processes embedded within hierarchical structures. Compared with embedded iteration, visual recursion correlated positively with other recursive planning tasks (Tower of Hanoi), but not with specific visuo-spatial resources (spatial short-term memory and working memory). We conclude that humans are able to use recursive representations to process complex visuo-spatial hierarchies and that our visual recursion task taps into specific cognitive resources. This method opens exciting opportunities to explore the relationship between visual recursion and language.Keywords Recursion . Iteration . Cognition . Vision . Fractals . RepresentationThe capacity to understand and generate complex hierarchies is one of the most fascinating features of human cognition. In many domains, including language, music, problem-solving, action-sequencing, and spatial navigation, humans organize basic elements into higher-order groupings and structures (Badre, 2008;Chomsky, 1957;Hauser, Chomsky, & Fitch, 2002; Nardini, Jones, Bedford, & Braddick, 2008;Unterrainer & Owen, 2006;Wohlschlager, Gattis, & Bekkering, 2003). This ability to encode the relationship between basic elements (words, people, etc.) and the broader structures in which these are embedded (sentences, corporations, etc.), affords flexibility to human behavior. For example, in action sequencing, and unlike pure serial associative behavior, hierarchical representations allow the omission or modification of certain steps, without impairing the overall goal.Here, we define hierarchies as non-cyclical tree-like organizations, where higher levels incorporate multiple lower levels in structural representations (Fitch & Martins, 2014), i.e., in which elements are embedded within other elements. This embedding can refer to the grouping of constituents within a higher order set, such as the grouping of individuals within a family (family = {ind1; ind2; ind3}), or it can refer to the establishment of asymmetrical dominance-subordination relationships between constituents, such as in social hierarchies (ind1 dominant over ind2, ind2 dominant over ind3, etc.).Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Hierarchical Processing In the Visual Domainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hierarchical Processing In the Visual Domainmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A novel approach to investigate recursion and iteration in visual hierarchical processing

Martins

Martins²,

Fitch

2015

Behav Res

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“…Recently, in a series of experiments, human adults and children have also been shown to represent recursion in the visuo-spatial domain (Martins et al, 2014, Martins et al, 2014, Martins et al, 2015). In this domain, subjects were able to induce recursive rules generating visual fractals, and to use these rules productively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive representation of “musical fractals”: Processing hierarchy and recursion in the auditory domain

et al. 2017

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The human ability to process hierarchical structures has been a longstanding research topic. However, the nature of the cognitive machinery underlying this faculty remains controversial. Recursion, the ability to embed structures within structures of the same kind, has been proposed as a key component of our ability to parse and generate complex hierarchies. Here, we investigated the cognitive representation of both recursive and iterative processes in the auditory domain. The experiment used a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm: participants were exposed to three-step processes in which pure-tone sequences were built either through recursive or iterative processes, and had to choose the correct completion. Foils were constructed according to generative processes that did not match the previous steps. Both musicians and non-musicians were able to represent recursion in the auditory domain, although musicians performed better. We also observed that general ‘musical’ aptitudes played a role in both recursion and iteration, although the influence of musical training was somehow independent from melodic memory. Moreover, unlike iteration, recursion in audition was well correlated with its non-auditory (recursive) analogues in the visual and action sequencing domains. These results suggest that the cognitive machinery involved in establishing recursive representations is domain-general, even though this machinery requires access to information resulting from domain-specific processes.

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Recursion in action: An fMRI study on the generation of new hierarchical levels in motor sequences

Martins

Bianco

Sammler

et al. 2019

Human Brain Mapping

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Generation of hierarchical structures, such as the embedding of subordinate elements into larger structures, is a core feature of human cognition. Processing of hierarchies is thought to rely on lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the neural underpinnings supporting active generation of new hierarchical levels remain poorly understood. Here, we created a new motor paradigm to isolate this active generative process by means of fMRI. Participants planned and executed identical movement sequences by using different rules: a Recursive hierarchical embedding rule, generating new hierarchical levels; an Iterative rule linearly adding items to existing hierarchical levels, without generating new levels; and a Repetition condition tapping into short term memory, without a transformation rule. We found that planning involving generation of new hierarchical levels (Recursive condition vs. both Iterative and Repetition) activated a bilateral motor imagery network, including cortical and subcortical structures. No evidence was found for lateral PFC involvement in the generation of new hierarchical levels. Activity in basal ganglia persisted through execution of the motor sequences in the contrast Recursive versus Iteration, but also Repetition versus Iteration, suggesting a role of these structures in motor short term memory. These results showed that the motor network is involved in the generation of new hierarchical levels during motor sequence planning, while lateral PFC activity was neither robust nor specific. We hypothesize that lateral PFC might be important to parse hierarchical sequences in a multi‐domain fashion but not to generate new hierarchical levels.

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Fractal image perception provides novel insights into hierarchical cognition

Cited by 45 publications

References 51 publications

A novel approach to investigate recursion and iteration in visual hierarchical processing

A novel approach to investigate recursion and iteration in visual hierarchical processing

Cognitive representation of “musical fractals”: Processing hierarchy and recursion in the auditory domain

Recursion in action: An fMRI study on the generation of new hierarchical levels in motor sequences

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