An electrophysiological index of perceptual goodness

Makin, Alexis and Wright, Damien and Rampone, Giulia and Palumbo, Letizia and Guest, Martin and Sheehan, Rhiannon and Cleaver, Helen and Bertamini, Marco (2016) An electrophysiological index of perceptual goodness. Cerebral Cortex, 26 (12). pp. 4416-4434. ISSN 1460-2199

Text An electrophysiological index of perceptual goodness_Author accepted version.docx - Accepted Version Download (17MB)

Abstract

A traditional line of work starting with the Gestalt school has shown that patterns vary in strength and salience, a difference in ‘Perceptual goodness’. The Holographic weight of evidence model quantified goodness of visual regularities (van der Helm and Leeuwenberg, 1996). The key formula states that W = E/N, where E is number of holographic identities in a pattern, and N is number of elements. We tested whether W predicts the amplitude of the neural response to regularity in an extrastriate symmetry-sensitive network. We recorded a symmetry related ERP component called the Sustained Posterior Negativity (SPN). First we reanalysed published work and found that W explained most variance in SPN amplitude. Then in four new studies, we confirmed specific predictions of the holographic model regarding 1) the differential effects of numerosity on reflection and repetition, 2) the similarity between reflection and Glass patterns 3) multiple symmetries, and 4) symmetry and anti-symmetry. In all cases, the holographic approach predicted SPN amplitude remarkably well; particularly in an early window around 300-400 ms post stimulus onset. Although the holographic model was not conceived as a model of neural processing, it captures many details of the brain response to symmetry.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information and Comments:	This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Cerebral Cortex following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version of "Makin, Alexis and Wright, Damien and Rampone, Giulia and Palumbo, Letizia and Guest, Martin and Sheehan, Rhiannon and Cleaver, Helen and Bertamini, Marco (2016) An electrophysiological index of perceptual goodness. Cerebral Cortex. ISSN 1460-2199" is available online at: http://cercor.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/10/04/cercor.bhw255.full.
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Human and Digital Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User:	Letizia Palumbo
Date Deposited:	21 Oct 2016 11:50
Last Modified:	11 Feb 2018 22:19
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/1653

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