Visual Perception Processing with Abstract Shapes and Line Contours

    The brain is a powerful entity and allows us to process a lot accurately and sometimes in a short amount of time. Especially when it comes to visual stimuli. The brain enables our receptors and neuronal circuit to take that stimulus and realize what we are seeing. Along with this, it is able to comprehend much more than what we notice, such as shapes, colors, and what those components end up creating.

     In a study done by Nicholas Baker, it was founded that in terms of abstract shape, processing occurs later and that V4 neurons are sensitive to stimuli. The sensitivity comes in context with how sharp or curvy the lines or images are.  Three experiments are done to get a better understanding of how the brain processes abstract shapes. The first experiment involved images of 2 dot patterns. The participants were set to see the pattern sequentially, which was divided with a pattern mask (image of random dots). Once the second pattern was shown, they were asked if the second pattern was the same as the first one that was shown. The second pattern could have either been the same or transformed to be considered different. There was also a difference in time for how long these images were flashed. It was founded that the participants that saw it for a longer time had a higher chance of being correct. For experiment 2, there was a similar dot pattern as the first experiment showed the participants, and then the same dots were shown but transformed clockwise or counterclockwise, or even scaled differently. In between the set of these images, there was a blank screen shown. Participants were asked whether it was transformed and how it was, or if it was scaled. It was seen that there was a making of abstract shapes from the participants from the dots. This made it necessary for more time for processing. Experiment 3 is where there were 2 displays of black and white dots and participants were asked if the positions of the dots from the first image changed from the second image. In between these images considered displays 1 and 2, there was a pattern mask of random dots and after the second display, another set of random dots showed. Then they were asked if they were different or the same images. It was seen that when there was any shift, there was a lower chance of the participants being correct. Based off of these results, it can be determined that when it's just dots shown and the brain will begin to perceive abstract shapes. As it begins to perceive abstract images, the brain needs more time in order to get a better understanding. More encoding also occurs in the brain for comprehension. 

    In a study done by Daniel Hipp, it was seen that technology plays a role in adapting visual perception. As technology is continuously advancing and is now a staple in the society we live in today, we are consistently looking at a screen. Whether it's our phones or a computer, there is always a screen that is easily accessible. In this study, there was a focus on the oblique effect in the real world versus the virtual world. This effect is accurately determining horizontal and vertical lines and edges in a different orientations. There were 2 experiments that were done in this research. The first one consisted of participants having to begin by adjusting to a dark room. They were shown a black fixation on a gray background. If there was an effective fixation, then a red oval would appear on the screen with a short animation after. It was founded with the use of eye-tracking, that the oblique contours were accurately seen 73.0% of the time. But when there was sound involved, it took a long time for the brain to process this. For the second experiment, participants were either asked to play Minecraft for 4 hours or limit their use of screens in general. The members that played the video game were the experimental group while the members who limited their screen use were the control group. Along with this, there was a pre and post-test that was similar to experiment 1 that was used in experiment 2. In this, it was founded that participants that were part of the experimental group went through training their brain within those 4 hours. During their post-test, the Minecraft players had an accuracy score of 77.3% with the lookout on oblique contours. 

    With both of these studies, it can be seen that our brain is able to understand more about visual stimuli when there is no full shape and also be adaptive. It may take more time for the brain to have an understanding if there are no major line contours, but it still is able to comprehend by making an imaginary one. That is able to be seen in Baker's study. Along with this, depending on the circumstances, the visual perception region in the brain is able to be adaptive through the use of technology. It is able to be adapted for the better in this case. Through Hipp's research it was founded that after playing a video game, there was a higher accuracy in the perception of oblique contours. The participants that played the game were able to discriminate these lines or edges that ran horizontally or vertically. All in all, the brain is able to grasp and process structures that we see whether there are contour lines or not, and no matter how it is orientated, it can be understood. 

Works Cited

Baker, N., & Kellman, P. J. (2018). Abstract shape representation in human visual perception. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 147(9), 1295–1308. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000409

Hipp, D., et al. “Mind-Craft: Exploring the Effect of Digital Visual Experience on Changes to Orientation Sensitivity in Visual Contour Perception.” Perception, vol. 49, no. 10, 2020, pp. 1005–1025., https://doi.org/10.1177/0301006620950989.