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Backward and forward neck tilt affects perceptual bias when interpreting ambiguous figures
Fumiaki Sato1, Ryoya Shiomoto1, Shigeki Nakauchi1
1Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS), Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka Tempaku, Toyohashi, Aichi, 441-8580, Japan.
Scientific Reports
|May 4, 2022
Summary
Neck posture significantly influences visual perception, altering the probability of how we interpret ambiguous images like the Necker cube. This study reveals how body position impacts cognitive processes.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
- Human Perception
Background:
- Previous research explored posture-perception links, but the impact of perceptual bias and context on altered postures remained unclear.
- Understanding how body position influences subjective perceptual experiences is crucial for a comprehensive model of human cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether changes in perceptual probability, influenced by perceptual bias, are dependent on neck posture.
- To explore the relationship between neck movement, perceptual bias, and the interpretation of ambiguous visual stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a virtual reality environment to present a Necker cube with constant visual input but varying orientations.
- Participants adopted specific neck postures (vertical and horizontal movements) and reported their perception of the Necker cube.
- Measured pupil diameter as a cognitive index during the experiment.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher probability of perceiving the Necker cube as 'viewed from above' occurred when participants looked down vertically compared to looking up.
- Pupil diameter measurements correlated with the observed changes in perceptual probability.
- Neck posture was identified as a modulating factor in visual perception.
Conclusions:
- Neck posture plays a significant role in modulating human perception, particularly in interpreting ambiguous visual stimuli.
- The findings suggest that neck posture is integrated into the ecological constraints that shape perception.
- This research contributes to understanding the embodied nature of cognitive processes.
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