Shape, gravity, and the perception of the right angle.
Past efforts to determine whether orientation-dependent sensitivity to right angles is due to retinal or environmental/gravitational frames of reference have produced conflicting conclusions. I attempt to show that the chief factor underlying this phenomenon is, rather, the shape of the object containing the angle. This shape mediates the typical orientation of the object in a ground- gravity context and the consequent force-structure of the incorporated angle-a force structure that is reflected in the percept.
Maniatis
Lydia M
LM
Psychology Department, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20016, USA. lydia.maniatis@gmail.com
D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010775:Photic Stimulation