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Updated: May 26, 2026
09:49
Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior
Published on: April 16, 2014
Drawing with divergent perspective, ancient and modern.
Ian P Howard1, Robert S Allison
1Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada. ihoward@cvr.yorku.ca
Perception
|January 3, 2012
Summary
Many university students draw cubes with divergent perspective, not convergent. This tendency, similar to pre-15th-century art, stems from specific drawing errors and the order of edge depiction.
Area of Science:
- Visual perception
- Artistic representation
- Cognitive psychology
Background:
- Historically, artists used divergent perspective before accurate methods emerged in the 15th century.
- Convergent perspective is the geometrically correct method for representing 3D objects on a 2D plane.
- This study investigates the persistence of divergent perspective in contemporary university students.
Observation:
- University students frequently produced inaccurate drawings of cubes and their components.
- Approximately 50% of students employed divergent perspective in their cube drawings.
- Students demonstrated accuracy in identifying correct tapered boxes and drawings, contrasting with their own drawing abilities.
Findings:
- Analysis revealed specific factors contributing to the tendency to draw in divergent perspective.
- The order in which cube edges are drawn significantly influences the intrusion of these factors.
- Drawing inaccuracies were more pronounced than the ability to select accurate representations.
Implications:
- Understanding these drawing biases can inform art education and visual training.
- Findings shed light on the cognitive processes underlying spatial representation and drawing.
- This research highlights the gap between perceptual judgment and motor execution in artistic tasks.
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