Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
14:38
Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning
Published on: November 2, 2012
Linking object boundaries at scale: a common mechanism for size and shape judgments
C A Burbeck1, S M Pizer, B S Morse
1Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-3175, USA.
Vision Research
|February 1, 1996
Summary
This study investigated how object boundary information influences perceived center location using wiggly rectangles. Center perception scales with object width, suggesting a unified boundary-linking mechanism for center determination.
Area of Science:
- Visual perception
- Computational neuroscience
- Psychophysics
Background:
- Understanding how the brain determines an object's center is crucial for visual processing.
- Previous research suggests boundary information is key, but the extent and scaling of this influence remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial extent of boundary information contributing to perceived object center.
- To examine how object width and edge modulation affect center perception.
Main Methods:
- A bisection task was employed using a "wiggly rectangle" stimulus with varying spatial frequencies and amplitudes of sinusoidal edge modulations.
- Two object widths were tested to analyze scaling effects.
Main Results:
- Perceived center modulation closely matched edge modulation at low frequencies, decreasing as frequency increased.
- Edge modulation had a more significant effect on the perceived center of narrower objects compared to wider ones.
- The observed scaling with object width aligned with bisection threshold scaling.
Conclusions:
- A unified mechanism likely underlies both the perceived center location and its variance for these stimuli.
- This mechanism involves linking object boundaries at a scale determined by the object's width.
Related Concept Videos
01:25The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic
In order to make good decisions, we use our knowledge and our reasoning. Often, this knowledge and reasoning is sound and solid. However, sometimes, we are swayed by biases or by others manipulating a situation. For example, let’s say you and three friends wanted to rent a house and had a combined target budget of $1,600. The realtor shows you only very run-down houses for $1,600 and then shows you a very nice house for $2,000. Might you ask each person to pay more in rent to get the $2,000...
01:23Types of Building Separation Joints
Building separation joints divide large or complex building structures into smaller, discrete units that can move independently. These joints are categorized into three types: volume-change joints, settlement joints, and seismic separation joints.
Volume-change joints address the effects of expansion and contraction due to temperature and moisture variations. They are strategically placed at discontinuities in a building's mass where cracking is most likely and are spaced about 150 to 200 feet...
Volume-change joints address the effects of expansion and contraction due to temperature and moisture variations. They are strategically placed at discontinuities in a building's mass where cracking is most likely and are spaced about 150 to 200 feet...
01:21Gestalt Principles of Perception
Gestalt principles provide a framework for understanding how humans perceive objects as unified wholes within their context. These principles are essential in explaining the cognitive processes that make sense of complex visual stimuli by organizing them into coherent groups. One fundamental principle is proximity, which posits that objects located close to each other are perceived as a collective group. For instance, when dots are positioned near one another, the visual system interprets them...
01:12Design Example: Marking Boundaries of a Site Using a Compass
Marking site boundaries using a compass is a precise surveying technique that ensures the accuracy of boundary delineation. The process begins by using provided site details, including the bearings and lengths of each boundary line. The initial step involves calculating latitudes and departures for all sides of the site. This computation verifies that the traverse is free of errors, ensuring a closed and accurate boundary.The process starts at a known point, such as Point A, which is often...