P1-22: Upper-Lower Asymmetry in Slant Perception and Natural Scene Statistics

This study investigates the upper-lower asymmetry of slant perception by measuring our daily environment and conducting a psychophysical experiment. We hypothesize that the performance of slant perception varies according to the viewing direction because the visual system adapts to the probability d...

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Main Authors: Makoto Inagami, Hirohiko Kaneko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2012-10-01
Series:i-Perception
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1068/if636
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author Makoto Inagami
Hirohiko Kaneko
author_facet Makoto Inagami
Hirohiko Kaneko
author_sort Makoto Inagami
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the upper-lower asymmetry of slant perception by measuring our daily environment and conducting a psychophysical experiment. We hypothesize that the performance of slant perception varies according to the viewing direction because the visual system adapts to the probability distribution of environmental slants. In the environmental measurement, we sampled 17 locations (2 indoor and 15 outdoor ones) from our daily environment. At each location, a 3D laser scanner was used to measure the spatial layout by collecting radial distances to the surrounding surfaces. On the basis of the measurements, we calculated the probability distribution of the magnitude of surface slant, which was analyzed for each upper and lower area with respect to the eye level. Consequently, the distribution for the lower area, compared to that for the upper area, showed a remarkably high peak at the horizontal (i.e., ground-like) slant. In the psychophysical experiment, participants observed a surface with a random-dot texture, which was presented in the upper and lower viewing directions. For each direction, the participants performed two tasks: adjusted the surface's slant to be vertical (i.e., wall-like) and horizontal (i.e., ceiling- or ground-like). The results show that the response is most accurate for the horizontal task in the lower direction. This finding, coupled with the distribution of environmental slants, suggests that the visual system is sensitive to the ground-like slant that often exists in our daily environment. This asymmetrical property of slant perception is consistent with our hypothesis.
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spelling doaj.art-ae1811a7cd9c432ab7b8a933d47c523e2022-12-22T00:58:39ZengSAGE Publishingi-Perception2041-66952012-10-01310.1068/if63610.1068_if636P1-22: Upper-Lower Asymmetry in Slant Perception and Natural Scene StatisticsMakoto Inagami0Hirohiko KanekoTokyo Institute of Technology, JapanThis study investigates the upper-lower asymmetry of slant perception by measuring our daily environment and conducting a psychophysical experiment. We hypothesize that the performance of slant perception varies according to the viewing direction because the visual system adapts to the probability distribution of environmental slants. In the environmental measurement, we sampled 17 locations (2 indoor and 15 outdoor ones) from our daily environment. At each location, a 3D laser scanner was used to measure the spatial layout by collecting radial distances to the surrounding surfaces. On the basis of the measurements, we calculated the probability distribution of the magnitude of surface slant, which was analyzed for each upper and lower area with respect to the eye level. Consequently, the distribution for the lower area, compared to that for the upper area, showed a remarkably high peak at the horizontal (i.e., ground-like) slant. In the psychophysical experiment, participants observed a surface with a random-dot texture, which was presented in the upper and lower viewing directions. For each direction, the participants performed two tasks: adjusted the surface's slant to be vertical (i.e., wall-like) and horizontal (i.e., ceiling- or ground-like). The results show that the response is most accurate for the horizontal task in the lower direction. This finding, coupled with the distribution of environmental slants, suggests that the visual system is sensitive to the ground-like slant that often exists in our daily environment. This asymmetrical property of slant perception is consistent with our hypothesis.https://doi.org/10.1068/if636
spellingShingle Makoto Inagami
Hirohiko Kaneko
P1-22: Upper-Lower Asymmetry in Slant Perception and Natural Scene Statistics
i-Perception
title P1-22: Upper-Lower Asymmetry in Slant Perception and Natural Scene Statistics
title_full P1-22: Upper-Lower Asymmetry in Slant Perception and Natural Scene Statistics
title_fullStr P1-22: Upper-Lower Asymmetry in Slant Perception and Natural Scene Statistics
title_full_unstemmed P1-22: Upper-Lower Asymmetry in Slant Perception and Natural Scene Statistics
title_short P1-22: Upper-Lower Asymmetry in Slant Perception and Natural Scene Statistics
title_sort p1 22 upper lower asymmetry in slant perception and natural scene statistics
url https://doi.org/10.1068/if636
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AT hirohikokaneko p122upperlowerasymmetryinslantperceptionandnaturalscenestatistics