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Modification of the convexity prior but not the light-from-above prior in visual search with shaded objects

Modification of the convexity prior but not the light-from-above prior in visual search with shaded objects
Modification of the convexity prior but not the light-from-above prior in visual search with shaded objects
Studies of visual search performance with shaded stimuli, in which the target is rotated by 180º relative to the distracters, typically demonstrate more efficient performance in stimuli with vertical compared to horizontal shading gradients. In addition, performance is usually better for vertically shaded stimuli with top-light (seen as convex) distracters compared to those with bottom-light (seen as concave) distracters. These findings have been cited as evidence for the use of the prior assumptions of overhead lighting and convexity in the interpretation of shaded stimuli and suggest that these priors affect preattentive processing. Here we attempt to modify these priors by providing observers with visual-haptic training in an environment inconsistent with their priors. Observers’ performance was measured in a visual search task and a shape judgement task before and after training. Following training we found a reduced asymmetry between visual search performance with convex and concave distracters, suggesting a modification of the convexity prior. However, although evidence of a change in the light-from-above prior was found in the shape judgement task, no change was found in the visual search task. We conclude that experience can modify the convexity prior at a preattentive stage in processing, however our training did not modify the light-from-above prior that is measured via visual search.
vision, shape-from-shading perception, search, shape, learning
1534-7362
1-10
Champion, R.A.
c039162b-a421-48cb-af81-88e10825f2a9
Adams, W.J.
25685aaa-fc54-4d25-8d65-f35f4c5ab688
Champion, R.A.
c039162b-a421-48cb-af81-88e10825f2a9
Adams, W.J.
25685aaa-fc54-4d25-8d65-f35f4c5ab688

Champion, R.A. and Adams, W.J. (2007) Modification of the convexity prior but not the light-from-above prior in visual search with shaded objects. Journal of Vision, 7 (13), 1-10. (doi:10.1167/7.13.10).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Studies of visual search performance with shaded stimuli, in which the target is rotated by 180º relative to the distracters, typically demonstrate more efficient performance in stimuli with vertical compared to horizontal shading gradients. In addition, performance is usually better for vertically shaded stimuli with top-light (seen as convex) distracters compared to those with bottom-light (seen as concave) distracters. These findings have been cited as evidence for the use of the prior assumptions of overhead lighting and convexity in the interpretation of shaded stimuli and suggest that these priors affect preattentive processing. Here we attempt to modify these priors by providing observers with visual-haptic training in an environment inconsistent with their priors. Observers’ performance was measured in a visual search task and a shape judgement task before and after training. Following training we found a reduced asymmetry between visual search performance with convex and concave distracters, suggesting a modification of the convexity prior. However, although evidence of a change in the light-from-above prior was found in the shape judgement task, no change was found in the visual search task. We conclude that experience can modify the convexity prior at a preattentive stage in processing, however our training did not modify the light-from-above prior that is measured via visual search.

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More information

Published date: 29 October 2007
Keywords: vision, shape-from-shading perception, search, shape, learning

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 48718
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/48718
ISSN: 1534-7362
PURE UUID: f0e6eb77-8ffb-4119-aa58-8c5e6a5e6a0a
ORCID for W.J. Adams: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5832-1056

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Oct 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:39

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Contributors

Author: R.A. Champion
Author: W.J. Adams ORCID iD

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