Orientation and experience in the perception of form: A study with the arizona whale-kangaroo

John F. Kihlstrom, Mary A. Peterson, Kevin M. Mconkey, Jacquelyn Cranney, Marth A.L. Glisky, Patricia M. Rose

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

When subjects are presented with the Arizona whale-kangaroo, an ambiguous figure, perception of the whale is more common than perception of the kangaroo. However, this difference is smaller in Australian than American subjects. Perception of the kangaroo is more orientation dependent than perception of the whale, which is perceived at all orientations of the stimulus. Together with the difference between subject populations, this effect reveals an influence of past experience on the perception of this new ambiguous figure. Perception of the whale versus the kangaroo differs in both reconstrual of parts and realignment of the object-centered reference frame. Observers report reference frame reconstruals before reference frame reversals, shedding light on the organization of object memory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)129-139
Number of pages11
JournalAmerican Journal of Psychology
Volume131
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2018

Keywords

  • Ambiguous figures
  • Bistable figures
  • Category clustering
  • Culture and perception
  • Form perception
  • Multistable figures
  • Object recognition
  • Orientation
  • Past experience
  • Perception
  • Reversible figures
  • Shape recognition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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