Thodore Gericault, Derby at Epsom

This exercise was intended to show how the same scene can be viewed from at least different perspectives.

three stages First, visual cognition(“seeing and understanding”) Second, primitive information is organized into fundamental processing (Bottom-up processing) third, fundamental forms are given meaning through association with previous knowledge of the world stored in long-term memory (LTM) (Top-down processing)

figure of an ice skater Brunette woman Portrait of Georges Pompidou

Direct theory Sensory information in and of itself is sufficient for a person to perceive the world accurately. Indirect theory Most of our perceptions are constructed from inferences about the real world. –Helmholtz -Gibson We might to do better to consider both theories as valid but as dealing with different parts of the sensory process. Carracci, trick drawing

Stimuli that are commonly organized into a pattern or basic configuration Because of finding food, heat, and light and avoiding harm Why is the perception of fundamental forms so important? What is an object? Where is it? What is it doing?

What is an object? Object : a thing distinguishable from other things. In mist Figure and groundHave you ever seen this drawing?

Due to the intensities of light reflected from an object. The ratio of reflected light from the white and black is approximately 20 to 1 Our ability to distinguish figure from ground About 16 times as many quanta per second of electromagnetic energy

Which the figure can be seen as the ground and the ground can be seen as the figure = Reversible figure The contour “belongs” to the figurecircular lines radiating straight lines

Victor Vasarely This was exactly what the artist intended Conceptualized as “figures” simultaneously- a difficult perceptual task M.C Escher(1898~1972) “Sky and Water I” Ground Figure

Salvador Dali, “Slave market with disappearing Bust of Voltaire”

SIMILARITY CONTINUATION CLOSURE PROGNANZ PROXIMITY

Seeing similar elements as belonging to the same class (B) as three columns of two circles (C) as three lines of solid circles and three lines of open circles

A slightly more complex example : the group of T's in the center stand out from the rest the physical energy reaching the retina is nearly identical for each of the three sets of information

The use of similar objects, beads, jewels and collar material compels the viewer to organize these common features. We naturally tend to organize the features of the subject's collar into a circular pattern.

Seeing a number of circles formed by certain common elements Some of these elements are parts of other circles at the same time The object becomes 'alive' with changing formations A result of perceptual rivalry between two natural organizational patterns(circles) The object has a dynamic tension that makes it difficult to see a stable form

Once we establish on pattern of circles, another circle captures some of the elements of the first circle

Seeing the tuna can as a part of the fish

Objects that flow “naturally” in one direction are likely to be seen as belonging together. “Flow”

“Common Fate Principle”

Vital Ability for Survive!!

: The tendency to see figures as unitary, enclosed wholes. explains elements recognized even if they are incomplete or nonexistent. “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.”

We “see” a circle. Technically, it is not a circle! In informal usage, we consider “things that are close to being circles”

A knight and his horse? Any of the shapes alone is meaningless. When we gain “closure” → components become an integral part of the whole. → Figure B becomes recognizable !

Closed figures seem to be “better/stronger” or stable. The more basic the closed figure, the more psychologically salient it is. (open lines<rectangle<square<circle)

“Pregnant with meaning”

“Good shapes” Typical, geometrically regular configurations. Our mind seeks stable, regular figures in the environment. We may feel uneasy if unstable to find such objection. (without knowing the source of our discomfort)

“Good shapes” Parallel lines Not the triangle! Competing stable forms The triangle becomes visible

Another way to understand 2 dimensionality. 3 dimensionality. 2dimensionality.

“Good shapes” Another way to understand Our perception of these ambiguous figures reverts to the most stable forms. We see stable forms in these objects.

Another way to understand (B) Two overlapping independent forms (C) Non-overlapping figures (D) Three forms ≫ The Most Parsimonious explanation : Two overlapping forms “Natural”

“Good shapes” Another way to understand First. Develop Fundamental forms -similar ways by all human observers. Second. Against to the environmentally determinist approach. -Now, become important part of cognitive psychology. Early perceptual psychologists

Question?