Symmetry is less than meets the eye

Title
Symmetry is less than meets the eye
Publication Date
2015-03-30
Author(s)
Apthorp, Deborah
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5785-024X
Email: dapthorp@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:dapthorp
Bell, Jason
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Cell Press
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1016/j.cub.2015.02.017
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/26985
Abstract
Symmetry is a ubiquitous feature in the visual environment and can be detected by a variety of species, ranging from insects through to humans 1, 2. Here we show it can also bias estimates of basic scene properties. Mirror (reflective) symmetry can be detected in as little as 50 ms, in both natural and artificial visual scenes, and even when embedded within cluttered backgrounds [1]. In terms of its biological relevance, symmetry is a key determinant in mate selection; the degree of symmetry in a face is positively associated with perceived healthiness and attractiveness ratings [3]. In short, symmetry processing mechanisms are an important part of the neural machinery of vision. We reveal that the importance of symmetry extends beyond the processing of shape and objects. Mirror symmetry biases our perception of scene content, with symmetrical patterns appearing to have fewer components than their asymmetric counterparts. This demonstrates an interaction between two fundamental dimensions of visual analysis: symmetry [1] and number [4]. We propose that this numerical underestimation results from a processing bias away from the redundant information within mirror symmetrical displays, extending existing theories regarding redundancy in visual analysis 5, 6.
Link
Citation
Current Biology, 25(7), p. R267-R268
ISSN
1879-0445
0960-9822
Start page
R267
End page
R268

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink