Abstract
We investigated the applicability of the Gestalt principle of perceptual grouping by proximity in the haptic modality. To do so, we investigated the influence of element proximity on haptic contour detection. In the course of four sessions ten participants performed a haptic contour detection task in which they freely explored a haptic random dot display that contained a contour in 50% of the trials. A contour was defined by a higher density of elements (raised dots), relative to the background surface. Proximity of the contour elements as well as the average proximity of background elements was systematically varied. We hypothesized that if proximity of contour elements influences haptic contour detection, detection will be more likely when contour elements are in closer proximity. This should be irrespective of the ratio with the proximity of the background elements. Results showed indeed that the closer the contour elements were, the higher the detection rates. Moreover, this was the case independent of the contour/background ratio. We conclude that the Gestalt law of proximity applies to haptic contour detection.
Highlights
The Gestalt theory of perceptual organization aims to explain how the brain processes and organizes the incoming stream of perceptual information
Since differences between modalities are mainly present at early stages of perceptual processing, with representations retaining more of the properties and dimensions of the proximal stimuli, more and stronger differences in the applicability of Gestalt principles between modalities suggest that their related mechanisms operate at early stages of perceptual processing
Our goal in the current study was to extend the investigation of the applicability of the Gestalt principle of proximity to the haptic modality to spontaneous grouping processes serving the detection of object contours
Summary
The Gestalt theory of perceptual organization aims to explain how the brain processes and organizes the incoming stream of perceptual information. Our goal in the current study was to extend the investigation of the applicability of the Gestalt principle of proximity to the haptic modality to spontaneous grouping processes serving the detection of object contours. We felt that this promised more direct evidence along the lines of similarities between vision and haptics. If, in contrast, the determining factor would be the detectability of the contour in the background, the ratio between contour and background is more important, and we would expect different results for these two conditions By using this approach we target the process of grouping by proximity at a tactile level. We hypothesized that closer proximity of contour elements support grouping, resulting in larger proportions of correct detection and shorter exploration times, even if detectability effects were controlled for and independent of the number of digits used
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