Objects shown in novel views are recognised with the help of attention

What is it about?

In a series of experiments, participants see pictures of common objects presented on a screen. These brief presentations vary the familiarity of the view (a familiar view, or one rotatetd in depth), as well as whether attention was directed to an object or not. By looking at people's response times - in particular to instances when an object is shown again in the same or different view - we can deduct whether depth rotations and attention are necessary in all cases of object encoding (storage) and retrieval (remembering).

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Why is it important?

The results of these studies help resolve the question to how we perceive, recognise, and store common objects in familiar and novel views. Cognitive theories are still not agreed on what the processes and mental representations are that help us recognise an object from an unfamiliar viewpoint. According to one idea, objects are stored in representations similar to simple 2D views (as we see them) and if we encounter an object in a new (e.g., rotatetd) view the brain uses clever processes (similar to morphing) to match these in order to recognise this object. Alternatively, it is possible that the brain uses clever representations that are able to recognise an object not in terms of its holistic view, but in terms of its parts (such as the handle and body of a mug) and its 3D structure. Then only a simple matching mechanisms (same parts? In similar 3D order?) is needed to 'match' the stored with a seen representation of an object. A hybrid solution of these proposed mechanisms is also possible, which may depend on attention.

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