A spatial perturbation technique for the investigation of discrete internal representations of visual patterns

A technique is proposed for the investigation of discrete internal representations assumed to be formed by the visual system in response to pattern stimuli. The proposed technique involves applying a local L-parameter group of spatial transformations to a pattern to generate a "continuum" of patterns. The visual discriminability of pairs of perturbed patterns corresponding to small fixed increments in the transformation parameter is determined at various points in the parameter range. By means of a simple rule, the characteristics of this discrimination performance are then related to the probability density functions assumed to underlie the hypothesized discrete internal representations. Two experimental applications of the proposed technique are described. The first is concerned with a discrete internal representation involving the specification of the colinearity or noncolinearity of the points in a pattern; the second is concerned with a discrete internal representation involving the specification of the acuteness or obtuseness of the angle between two lines in a pattern.