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Related Experiment Video

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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Published on: January 23, 2017

Reversing the attention effect in figure-ground perception.

Liqiang Huang¹, Harold Pashler

¹The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. lqhuang@psy.cuhk.edu.hk

Psychological Science

|August 19, 2009

Summary

Attention can influence visual perception, but this effect can be reversed. The visual system prioritizes perceptual simplicity in attended regions, offering a new principle for understanding figure-ground segmentation.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Visual Perception

Background:

Human visual perception exhibits ambiguity, with attention influencing the interpretation of perceptual structures.
Previous theories suggested attention to a region in figure-ground segmentation increases its perceived proximity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of attention in figure-ground segmentation.
To explore conditions under which the attention-proximity effect can be reversed.
To propose a new principle explaining attentional effects in visual perception.

Main Methods:

Experimental manipulation of attention and perceptual stimuli.
Analysis of subjective reports on perceived depth and figure-ground organization.
Testing the proposed principle of maximizing simplicity in attended regions.

Main Results:

Demonstrated that the effect of attention on perceived depth in figure-ground segmentation can be reversed.
Identified specific conditions that lead to this reversal.
Found evidence supporting the principle that the visual system favors interpretations maximizing simplicity in attended areas.

Conclusions:

The relationship between attention and perceived depth is more complex than previously assumed.
A novel principle of maximizing simplicity in attended regions offers a better account of attentional effects in visual perception.
This finding has implications for understanding visual ambiguity and attention.