When Scenes Look Like Materials: René Magritte’s Reversible Figure–Ground Motif

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 299-310
Author(s):  
J. Brendan Ritchie ◽  
Benjamin van Buren
Keyword(s):  
Image Segmentation ◽  
Perceptual Organization ◽  
Scene Perception ◽  
Reversible Figure ◽  
Image Statistics ◽  
Figural Region ◽  
Frequent Motif ◽  
Visual Segmentation ◽  
Positive Space

We draw attention to a frequent motif in the work of the Belgian surrealist René Magritte (1898–1967). In the motif, a scene is depicted that contains a silhouette, which itself contains another depicted scene. The silhouette is bistable, appearing either as a figural region whose positive space is covered, or filled, with the interior scene texture, or as a ground region providing a window onto a more distant scene. We call this the ‘reversible figure–ground motif’. Because the stimulus does not change when our percept changes, the motif’s appearance at any particular moment cannot be explained by its local or global image statistics. Instead principles of perceptual organization, and in particular image segmentation and figure–ground assignment, appear crucial for determining whether the interior of the silhouette is processed as a material vs. a scene — which in turn reflects the fundamental role of visual segmentation in material and scene perception more generally.

scholarly journals Direct brain recordings reveal prefrontal cortex dynamics of memory development

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. eaat3702 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Johnson ◽  
L. Tang ◽  
Q. Yin ◽  
E. Asano ◽  
N. Ofen
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Recognition Memory ◽  
Scene Perception ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Memory Formation ◽  
Developing Brain ◽  
Memory Development ◽  
Temporal Precision ◽  
Frontal Activity

Prevailing theories link prefrontal cortex (PFC) maturation to the development of declarative memory. However, the precise spatiotemporal correlates of memory formation in the developing brain are not known. We provide rare intracranial evidence that the spatiotemporal propagation of frontal activity supports memory formation in children. Seventeen subjects (6.2 to 19.4 years) studied visual scenes in preparation for a recognition memory test while undergoing direct cortical monitoring. Earlier PFC activity predicted greater accuracy, and subsecond deviations in activity flow between subregions predicted memory formation. Activity flow between inferior and precentral sites was refined during adolescence, partially explaining gains in memory. In contrast, middle frontal activity predicted memory independent of age. These findings show with subsecond temporal precision that the developing PFC links scene perception and memory formation and underscore the role of the PFC in supporting memory development.

scholarly journals The role of learning in the perceptual organization of a face

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 613-613
Author(s):  
J. Bittner ◽  
M. Wenger ◽  
R. Von Der Heide ◽  
D. Fitousi
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Organization

scholarly journals The role of perceptual organization in crowding

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 625-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Moore ◽  
A. Chung
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Organization

scholarly journals The role of local image statistics in separating figure from ground

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 124a
Author(s):  
Jonathan Victor ◽  
Mary M Conte
Keyword(s):  
Image Statistics ◽  
Local Image

Hybrid Image Segmentation Within a Computer Vision Hierarchy

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Ray Thomas ◽  
Fariborz Zahedi
Keyword(s):  
Computer Vision ◽  
Image Segmentation ◽  
Vision System ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Segmentation Approach ◽  
Edge Based

Hybrid image segmentation within a computer vision hierarchy A generic model of a computer vision system is presented which highlights the critical role of image segmentation. A hybrid segmentation approach, utilising both edge-based and region-based techniques, is proposed for improved quality of segmentation. An image segmentation architecture is outlined and test results are presented and discussed.

Optical Defocusing Reverses Perceptual Organization

Perception ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Timothy Petersik
Keyword(s):  
Critical Point ◽  
Perceptual Organization ◽  
Reversible Figure ◽  
Similar Point ◽  
Spontaneous Reversal ◽  
Over Time

At a certain point during the defocusing of a reversible figure, the organization of the figure reversed unexpectedly, and the reversal seemed more abrupt than a spontaneous reversal. The critical point is approximately constant over time for a given subject, and a similar point occurs during refocusing. This phenomenon is discussed in terms of inhibition between competing neural structures.

scholarly journals A-49 Visual Memory Errors and Intelligence: The Role of Verbal Mediation

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 908-909
Author(s):  
K Hakinson ◽  
J Moses ◽  
J RIvera ◽  
A Guerra ◽  
M Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Perceptual Organization ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Component Analysis ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Verbal Mediation ◽  
Memory Errors ◽  
Shared Variance

Abstract Objective Examine the relationship of verbal mediation with visual memory errors and intelligence to understand the role of spoken language on other assessment measures. Method Assessment records were obtained from a Veteran Affairs clinic for veterans (n=100) with diverse neuropsychiatric conditions who completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, third edition (WAIS-III), Multilingual Aphasia Examination (MAE), and Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT). A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to examine the interrelationship among these assessments. The components of spoken language, types of errors on the BVRT, and the four factors of the WAIS-III were factored using the PCA to identify common sources of variance. Results A principal component analysis revealed a six-factor model explaining 68.16% of the shared variance among the WAIS-III factors, MAE components, and BVRT Errors. Omission errors loaded with Processing Speed and Controlled Word Association. Distortions and size errors loaded with Perceptual Organization. Size errors also loaded with Verbal Comprehension and Visual Naming. Misplacements loaded with Working Memory and Sentence Repetition. Misplacements, perseverations, and omissions loaded with the Token Test (a measure associated with auditory comprehension). Rotation errors loaded with Perceptual Organization. Conclusions Results indicated significant shared variance between visual memory errors, spoken language, and intelligence factors. This suggests that spoken language is involved in the process of visual memory, and deficits in spoken language may result in increased errors on visual memory tasks. Therefore, treatment recommendations for visual memory difficulties should take into consideration verbal capabilities and intelligence factors to better individualize treatment.

scholarly journals The Limiting Case of Amodal Completion: The Phenomenal Salience and the Role of Contrast Polarity

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinna ◽  
Conti
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Organization ◽  
Amodal Completion ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Good Continuation ◽  
Contrast Polarity ◽  
Visual Phenomenon ◽  
Continuous Object ◽  
Limiting Case ◽  
Visual Properties

In this work, we demonstrated unique and relevant visual properties imparted by contrast polarity in perceptual organization and in eliciting amodal completion, which is the vivid completion of a single continuous object of the visible parts of an occluded shape despite portions of its boundary contours not actually being seen. T-junction, good continuation, and closure are considered the main principles involved according to relevant explanations of amodal completion based on the simplicity–Prägnanz principle, Helmholtz’s likelihood, and Bayesian inference. The main interest of these approaches is to explain how the occluded object is completed, what is the amodal shape, and how contours of partially visible fragments are relatable behind an occluder. Different from these perspectives, amodal completion was considered here as a visual phenomenon and not as a process, i.e., the final outcome of perceptual processes and grouping principles. Therefore, the main question we addressed through our stimuli was “What is the role of shape formation and perceptual organization in inducing amodal completion?” To answer this question, novel stimuli, similar to limiting cases and instantiae crucis, were studied through Gestalt experimental phenomenology. The results demonstrated the domination of the contrast polarity against good continuation, T-junctions, and regularity. Moreover, the limiting conditions explored revealed a new kind of junction next to the T- and Y-junctions, respectively responsible for amodal completion and tessellation. We called them I-junctions. The results were theoretically discussed in relation to the previous approaches and in the light of the phenomenal salience imparted by contrast polarity.

scholarly journals Mid-level Priming by Completion vs. Mosaic Solutions

i-Perception ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 204166951882034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Peta ◽  
Carlo Fantoni ◽  
Walter Gerbino
Keyword(s):  
Image Segmentation ◽  
Mirror Symmetry ◽  
Matching Task ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Prime Duration ◽  
Fixation Cross ◽  
Prime Sequence ◽  
Matching Performance ◽  
Contour Curvature

We report two experiments on the role of mid-level processes in image segmentation and completion. In the primed matching task of Experiment 1, a cue→prime sequence was presented before the imperative stimulus consisting of target shapes with positive versus negative contour curvature polarity and one versus two axes of mirror symmetry. Priming shapes were included in two composite occlusion displays with the same T-junction information and different geometric features supporting a distinct balance between completion and mosaic solutions. A cue, either congruent or incongruent with targets, preceded the presentation of the composite priming display. Matching performance was affected by primes in the expected direction, while cue congruency participated only in a marginally significant three-way interaction, and prime duration had no effect. In Experiment 2, the cue→prime sequence was replaced by a fixation cross to control for the priming effect obtained in Experiment 1. The study confirmed that contour connectability and curvature polarity are effective structural factors capable of competing with symmetry in mid-level image segmentation and completion processes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document