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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Published on: November 2, 2012

Computational origins of shape perception.

Lalit Pandey¹, Samantha M W Wood^1,2,3, Justin N Wood^1,2,3,4

¹Informatics Department, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.

Plos Computational Biology

|December 15, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Shape perception develops from generic fitting systems, embodied experiences, and biological sensors. View diversity is crucial for developing shape perception, as demonstrated in controlled experiments with artificial agents.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Neuroscience
Computer Vision

Background:

Shape perception is fundamental to human vision.
The developmental origins of shape perception are not well understood.
Existing models often lack biological plausibility or developmental grounding.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the developmental origins of shape perception.
To identify the key ingredients necessary for shape perception development.
To explore the role of embodied experience and sensory input in shaping visual systems.

Main Methods:

Training generic fitting models (transformers) on embodied visual experiences.
Conducting in silico controlled-rearing experiments to isolate developmental factors.
Analyzing the impact of view diversity and retinal image transformations on shape learning.

Main Results:

Generic fitting models evolved from color-based to shape-based systems with embodied training.
View diversity (experiencing multiple object views) was identified as the critical factor for shape perception development.
Restricted view diversity led to a failure in shape perception development.
Natural retinal image transformations were found to enhance shape learning.

Conclusions:

Shape perception emerges from the interplay of generic fitting systems, embodied visual experiences, and biologically plausible sensors.
Embodied agents rapidly develop shape perception due to inherent view diversity from world interaction.
The findings support generic fitting theories of brain development and offer a blueprint for artificial shape perception.