Abstract
Multi-stability refers to the phenomenon of perception stochastically switching between possible interpretations of an unchanging stimulus. Despite considerable variability, individuals show stable idiosyncratic patterns of switching between alternative perceptions in the auditory streaming paradigm. We explored correlates of the individual switching patterns with executive functions, personality traits, and creativity. The main dimensions on which individual switching patterns differed from each other were identified using multidimensional scaling. Individuals with high scores on the dimension explaining the largest portion of the inter-individual variance switched more often between the alternative perceptions than those with low scores. They also perceived the most unusual interpretation more often, and experienced all perceptual alternatives with a shorter delay from stimulus onset. The ego-resiliency personality trait, which reflects a tendency for adaptive flexibility and experience seeking, was significantly positively related to this dimension. Taking these results together we suggest that this dimension may reflect the individual’s tendency for exploring the auditory environment. Executive functions were significantly related to some of the variables describing global properties of the switching patterns, such as the average number of switches. Thus individual patterns of perceptual switching in the auditory streaming paradigm are related to some personality traits and executive functions.
Highlights
The phenomenon of perception stochastically switching back and forth between possible interpretations of an unchanging stimulus is termed multi-stable perception
The current study explores whether the idiosyncratic patterns that characterize perception correlate with other more widely recognized differences in executive functions, personality traits, and creativity
We explore the effects of some general personality traits, such as the ones measured by the Five Factor Model, on the perception of ambiguous stimuli
Summary
The phenomenon of perception stochastically switching back and forth between possible interpretations of an unchanging stimulus is termed multi-stable perception (often referred as bistability, for a review, see [1]). In the duck-rabbit illusion [2], a perceiver can see either a duck or a rabbit, and his/her perception can change over time between the two PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0154810. In the duck-rabbit illusion [2], a perceiver can see either a duck or a rabbit, and his/her perception can change over time between the two PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0154810 May 2, 2016
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