Detection of change in shape: an advantage for concavities

• Autores: Elan Barenholtz, Elias H. Cohen, Jacob Feldman, Manish Singh
• Localización: Cognition: International journal of cognitive science, ISSN 0010-0277, Vol. 89, Nº 1, 2003, págs. 1-9
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Shape representation was studied using a change detection task. Observers viewed two individual shapes in succession, either identical or one a slightly altered version of the other, and reported whether they detected a change. We found a dramatic advantage for concave compared to convex changes of equal magnitude. Observers were more accurate when a concavity along the contour was introduced, or removed, compared to a convexity. This result sheds light on the underlying representation of visual shape, and in particular the central role played by part-boundaries. Moreover, this finding shows how change detection methodology can serve as a useful tool in studying the specific form of visual representations.