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Perceptual bias contextualized in visually ambiguous stimuli.
Antonino Esposito1, Salvatore Gaetano Chiarella1, Antonino Raffone2
1Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Brain and Cognition Research Unit, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Cognition
|September 29, 2022
Summary
Visual perception relies on stimulus properties and observer biases. This study shows that top-down context, like visual working memory, effectively modulates orientation bias, while bottom-up priming acts as a simple trigger.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Perceptual biases influence how observers interpret visual stimuli.
- The aspect ratio of dot lattices lawfully affects grouping by proximity.
- Orientation bias, a preference for cardinal orientations, modulates this grouping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how preceding context (top-down vs. bottom-up) modulates perceptual orientation bias.
- To differentiate the effects of visual working memory (VWM) load and content versus sensory priming on orientation bias.
- To understand the temporal context sensitivity of Gestalt perception.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Perceptual judgment task within a change detection paradigm, manipulating VWM load and content.
- Experiment 2: Perceptual judgment task preceded by oriented primes.
- Measured grouping by proximity in ambiguous dot lattices as a function of aspect ratio and bias.
Main Results:
- A robust vertical orientation bias was observed.
- VWM load increased the bias; congruent VWM content modulated it.
- Priming elicited a vertical bias regardless of prime orientation, acting as a trigger.
Conclusions:
- Top-down context (VWM) effectively controls orientation bias modulation.
- Bottom-up context (priming) acts as an undifferentiated trigger for perceptual bias.
- Findings illuminate mechanisms controlling perceptual bias and Gestalt perception's temporal sensitivity.
Keywords:
Bottom-up temporal contextGrouping by proximityOrientationPerceptual biasPrimingTop-down temporal contextVisual working memoryMore Related Videos
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