The perception of whole and parts was investigated in human subjects. Using computer generated visual stimuli, the roles of eccentricity and size and their possible interact ion on the speed of processing of global and local levels was examined. It was argued tha t the measurement of the speed of processing of wholes and parts would not be accurate if the variable of eccentricity was not controlled. In this study, the variable of eccentri city was controlled using electrodes attached around the eyes. The results showed that if the confound of eccentricity was controlled, wholistic properties of a visual stimulus w ould process faster than local properties. Somewhat surprisingly, the pattern of response times as a function of eccentricity was quadratic. Subsequent experiments indicated that the quadratic functions obtained resulted from the summed individual effects of size and eccentricity. The results indicate that size and eccentricity are the main determinants in order and speed of processing of wholes and parts, and many previous findings (e.g.[1, 2]) may be explained in terms of these effects.

References

1. Amirkhiabani, G.; Lovegrove, W.J. (1996). Role of eccentricity and size in the glo bal precedence effect. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Perform ance, 22, 1434-1447.
2. Kimchi, R. (1992). Primacy of wholistic processing and global/local paradigm: a cr itical review. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 24-38.

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