Top-Down Influences to Multistable Perception: Evidence from Temporal Dynamics
We have studied the temporal characteristics of
bistable perception of the stimuli of two types: one involves
alterations in a perceived depth and another one has an ambiguous
content. We used the Necker lattice and lines of shadowed circles
ambiguously perceived either as spheres or holes as stimuli of the
first type. The Winson figure (the Eskimo/Indian picture) was a
stimulus of the second type. We have analyzed how often the
reversals occurred (reversal rate) and for how long each of the two
interpretations, or percepts, was observed during one presentation
(stability durations). For all three ambiguous images the reversal rate
and the stability durations had similar values, which provide another
evidence for a significant role of top-down processes in multistable
perception.
[1] J. Kornmeier, and M. Bach, “Ambiguous figures – what happens in the
brain when perception changes but not the stimulus,” Front. Hum.
Neurosci., 2012, vol. 6, pp, 1-23.
[2] T.C. Toppino, and G.M. Long, “Selective adaptation with reversible
figures: don’t change that channel”, Percept Psychophys., 1987, vol. 42,
pp. 37–48.
[3] G.M. Long, and A.D. Olszweski, “To reverse or not to reverse: when is
an ambiguous figure not ambiguous?”, Am J Psychol., 1999, vol. 112,
pp. 41–71.
[4] J. Kornmeier, and M. Bach, “Early neural activity in Necker-cube
reversal: evidence for low-level processing of a gestalt phenomenon”,
Psychophysiology, 2004, vol. 41, iss. 1, pp. 1-8.
[5] I. Rock, S. Hall, and J. Davis, “Why do ambiguous figures reverse,”
Acta Psychologica, 1994, vol. 87, iss. 1, pp. 33–59.
[6] D.A. Leiopold, and N.K. Logothetis, “Multistable phenomena: changing
views in perception,” Trends Cogn. Sci., 1999, vol. 3, iss. 7, 1 July, pp.
254–264.
[7] J. Kornmeier, Ch.M. Hein, and M.Bach, “Multistable perception: When
bottom-up and top-down coincide,” Brain and Cognition, 2009, vol. 69,
pp. 138-147.
[8] R. van Ee, L.C.J. van Dam, G.J. Brouwer, “Voluntary control and the
dynamics of perceptual bi-stability”, Vis Res, 2005, vol 45, pp. 41-55.
[9] J. Kornmeier, S.P. Heinrich, H. Atmanspacher, and M. Bach, “The
reversing "Necker Wall" - a new paradigm with reversal entrainment
reveals an early EEG correlate,” Investigative Ophthalmology and
Visual Science, 2001, vol. 42, p. 409.
[10] J.E. Bergum, B.O. Bergum, “Self-perceived creativity and ambiguous
figure reversal-rates”, Bull Psychonom Soc, 1979, vol. 14, no 5, pp. 373-
374.
[11] B.O. Bergum, J.E. Bergum, “Creativity, perceptual stability, and selfperception”,
Bull Psychonom Soc, 1979, vol. 14, no 1, pp. 61–65.
[12] H. Klintman, “Original thinking and ambiguous figure reversal rates”,
Bull Psychonom Soc, 1984, vol. 22, no 2, pp. 129–131.
[13] J. Wernery, “Bistable perception of the Necker cube in the context of
cognition and personality”, ETH, 2013.
[14] N.F. Troje, and M. McAdam, “The viewing-from-above bias and the
silhoutte illusion”, i-Perception, 2010, vol. 1, iss. 3, pp. 143–148.
[15] V.S. Ramachandran, “Perceiving Shape from Shading”, Sci. Amer.,
1988, vol. 259. no 2, pp. 76-83.
[16] V.A. Maksimova, D.N. Podvigina, “Ambiguous figures perception
under binocular and monocular viewing conditions”, Perception, 2014,
vol 43, ECVP Abstract Supplement, p. 111.
[1] J. Kornmeier, and M. Bach, “Ambiguous figures – what happens in the
brain when perception changes but not the stimulus,” Front. Hum.
Neurosci., 2012, vol. 6, pp, 1-23.
[2] T.C. Toppino, and G.M. Long, “Selective adaptation with reversible
figures: don’t change that channel”, Percept Psychophys., 1987, vol. 42,
pp. 37–48.
[3] G.M. Long, and A.D. Olszweski, “To reverse or not to reverse: when is
an ambiguous figure not ambiguous?”, Am J Psychol., 1999, vol. 112,
pp. 41–71.
[4] J. Kornmeier, and M. Bach, “Early neural activity in Necker-cube
reversal: evidence for low-level processing of a gestalt phenomenon”,
Psychophysiology, 2004, vol. 41, iss. 1, pp. 1-8.
[5] I. Rock, S. Hall, and J. Davis, “Why do ambiguous figures reverse,”
Acta Psychologica, 1994, vol. 87, iss. 1, pp. 33–59.
[6] D.A. Leiopold, and N.K. Logothetis, “Multistable phenomena: changing
views in perception,” Trends Cogn. Sci., 1999, vol. 3, iss. 7, 1 July, pp.
254–264.
[7] J. Kornmeier, Ch.M. Hein, and M.Bach, “Multistable perception: When
bottom-up and top-down coincide,” Brain and Cognition, 2009, vol. 69,
pp. 138-147.
[8] R. van Ee, L.C.J. van Dam, G.J. Brouwer, “Voluntary control and the
dynamics of perceptual bi-stability”, Vis Res, 2005, vol 45, pp. 41-55.
[9] J. Kornmeier, S.P. Heinrich, H. Atmanspacher, and M. Bach, “The
reversing "Necker Wall" - a new paradigm with reversal entrainment
reveals an early EEG correlate,” Investigative Ophthalmology and
Visual Science, 2001, vol. 42, p. 409.
[10] J.E. Bergum, B.O. Bergum, “Self-perceived creativity and ambiguous
figure reversal-rates”, Bull Psychonom Soc, 1979, vol. 14, no 5, pp. 373-
374.
[11] B.O. Bergum, J.E. Bergum, “Creativity, perceptual stability, and selfperception”,
Bull Psychonom Soc, 1979, vol. 14, no 1, pp. 61–65.
[12] H. Klintman, “Original thinking and ambiguous figure reversal rates”,
Bull Psychonom Soc, 1984, vol. 22, no 2, pp. 129–131.
[13] J. Wernery, “Bistable perception of the Necker cube in the context of
cognition and personality”, ETH, 2013.
[14] N.F. Troje, and M. McAdam, “The viewing-from-above bias and the
silhoutte illusion”, i-Perception, 2010, vol. 1, iss. 3, pp. 143–148.
[15] V.S. Ramachandran, “Perceiving Shape from Shading”, Sci. Amer.,
1988, vol. 259. no 2, pp. 76-83.
[16] V.A. Maksimova, D.N. Podvigina, “Ambiguous figures perception
under binocular and monocular viewing conditions”, Perception, 2014,
vol 43, ECVP Abstract Supplement, p. 111.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:71549", author = "Daria N. Podvigina and Tatiana V. Chernigovskaya", title = "Top-Down Influences to Multistable Perception: Evidence from Temporal Dynamics", abstract = "We have studied the temporal characteristics of
bistable perception of the stimuli of two types: one involves
alterations in a perceived depth and another one has an ambiguous
content. We used the Necker lattice and lines of shadowed circles
ambiguously perceived either as spheres or holes as stimuli of the
first type. The Winson figure (the Eskimo/Indian picture) was a
stimulus of the second type. We have analyzed how often the
reversals occurred (reversal rate) and for how long each of the two
interpretations, or percepts, was observed during one presentation
(stability durations). For all three ambiguous images the reversal rate
and the stability durations had similar values, which provide another
evidence for a significant role of top-down processes in multistable
perception.", keywords = "Multistable perception, perceived depth, reversal
rate, top-down processes.", volume = "9", number = "11", pages = "3984-4", }