Experimental Verification of the Relationship Formation Model in the Process of Visual Perception

Abstract

The transcendental psychology approach to the study of perception (A.I. Mirakyan) assumes that in the perception there are so-called structurally-generative processes. Their study is based on an axiomatic methodology, which includes general natural principles for the formation of relationships that provide conditions and opportunities for creating forms in visual perception. The conducted experiment was devoted to the experimental verification of a theoretical model presenting a hierarchy of center-symmetrical and temporary relationships. Experiments included perception of short-term displayed contour symmetric objects that vary in size at a fairly high speed. The method was based on the detection of the place of the Fröhlich effect (onset or offset) for stimuli increasing and decreasing in size. The studied model indicated the possibility of the appearance of subjects of the reversed Fröhlich effect (it is offset as representational momentum but reversed in time) for stimuli decreasing in size at high speeds. The experiments showed that for a speed of 15 deg/s, the percentage of such subjects was 8%, and for a speed of 30 deg/s—22%, while for a speed of 60 deg/s this percentage exceeds 65%. For the last speed, there were a significant number of tests with the reversed Fröhlich effect, which was predicted by the model. Thus, we see possibility to verify the proposed theoretical model, although the conclusions made require further theoretical and experimental verification. Transcendental psychology approach provides alternative explanations for phenomena, which are determined by the principles of Gestalt psychology.