Challenges of object perception
Inverse projection problem
an image on the retina can be caused by an infinite number of objects - the task of determining the object responsible for a particular image on the retina
Viewpoint invariance
the ability to recognise an object seen from different viewpoints, regardless of the viewpoint
Structuralism (Wundt)
perceptions are created by combining elements called sensations
- can no explain apparent movement or illusory contours
Illusory contours
illusion of physical edges where there are none
Gestalt Approach
The whole is different from the sum of its parts - perception is a result of perceptual organisation
(Principles of perceptual organisation)
Good continuation
connected points resulting in straight or smooth curves belong together
(Principles of perceptual organisation)
Pragnanz (principle of simplicity)
every stimulus is seen as simply as possible
(Principles of perceptual organisation)
Similarity
similar things appear to be grouped together
(Principles of perceptual organisation)
Proximity
things that are near each other are grouped together
(Principles of perceptual organisation)
Common fate
things that are moving in the same direction appear to be grouped together
(Principles of perceptual organisation)
Common region
elements that are within the same region of space appear to be grouped together
(Principles of perceptual organisation)
Uniform connectedness
a connected region of the same visual properties is perceived as a single unit
(Principles of perceptual organisation)
Synchrony
elements occurring at the same time are seen as belonging together
Perceptual segretation
the perceptual segregation of one object from another
Figure-ground segregation
determining which part of the environment is the figure so that it stands out from the background
Reversible figure-ground
Figure and ground that can be perceived either way
Image based factors for figure
Global image features
perceived rapidly and are associated with specific types of scenes
Physical regularities in the environment
Semantic regularities in the environment
Characteristics associated with the functions of scenes
- Scene schema - knowledge of what scene typically contains
Hollingworth - observers were presented with a scene and then an object, and asked where the object would be placed in the scene
Palmer - Observers saw a context scene, followed by a target picture, flashed briefly, and are asked to identify the target picture
Theory of unconscious inference (Helmholtz)
made to explain why stimuli can be interpreted in more than one way, but we prefer one
Likelihood principle
We perceive the object that is most likely to have caused the pattern of stimuli we have received
Bayesian inference
our estimate of the probability is determined by