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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 15, 2026

A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test
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A world of things and stuff.

Susan Hespos1, Antonia Götz1, Tijl Grootswagers1

  • 1MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|October 8, 2025
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Summary

Perceiving objects and substances seems simple, but new research highlights complex challenges in how humans distinguish between things and stuff. Understanding this perception is key to cognitive science.

Keywords:
converging evidenceneuroscienceobjectssubstancesvision

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Perception Research
  • Philosophy of Mind

Background:

  • The distinction between 'thing' (object) and 'stuff' (substance) is fundamental to human perception.
  • Previous research has largely assumed this categorization is straightforward.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the complexities and puzzles underlying the human ability to differentiate between objects and substances.
  • To challenge the simplistic view of object-substance perception.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of recent research findings on perceptual categorization.
  • Review of theoretical frameworks in cognitive psychology and philosophy.

Main Results:

  • Human perception of objects versus substances involves intricate cognitive processes.
  • Several unresolved questions and paradoxes exist in this area of perception.

Conclusions:

  • The seemingly simple act of categorizing entities as 'thing' or 'stuff' is remarkably complex.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of object-substance perception.