Camouflaged symmetry.
The notions of symmetry group and camouflage are explained, and a technique is introduced to visually camouflage symmetry groups in natural textures. Two experiments were carried out to test discriminability of symmetry groups p1, p2, pm, and pg in 4-oddity and 5AFC designs with different or same texture per set of stimulus pictures, respectively. In 4-oddity, detection of p1 was enhanced by pm distractors and impaired by those of pg. In 5AFC, p2 proved discriminable against p1; pg did not. Findings are interpreted as qualifying broad claims about symmetry as an organisational principle for vision. Further investigations of visual discrimination of symmetry operations and groups are suggested.
Landwehr
Klaus
K
Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, D 17487 Greifswald, Germany. klaus.landwehr@uni-greifswald.de
D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods