Gestalt factors in binocular vision

Abstract

There are various designs (figure) in the world, and how those figures are effectively perceived by obserbers is determined by Gestalt factors defined by Gestalt psychology (Wertheimer, 1923). Though it has already been clarified that the factor of closure works strongly, compared to other factors coexisted in the figure. There are few studies investigating the strength of the factors of similarity and so on, in addition to the factores of proximity and closure. There is no previous work that examines the perception when Gestalt factors are combined under binocular stereopsis (perception of depth based on the gap between the right and left eye's retinal images). In the present study, following two points were examined. The first experiments investigated whether there are any differences in perceptual distances towards horizontal and vertival axes in frontoparallel plane, and toward depth axis. The second experiments addressed the difference of perception using stimuli with and without the factor of absence of reminder. In addition, we investigated 3D nature of some Gestalt factors. As a result of the first experiment, we obtained the conclusion that perceived distances towards X, Y, and Z axes were almost the same. The second experiments resulted in that there were not remarkable difference with and without the factor of absence of reminder, and that when 3D convexity/concavity was given, grouping power was strengthen.