Preference For Scenes Research Articles

Encoding manifolds constructed from grating responses organize responses to natural scenes across mouse cortical visual areas.

We have created "encoding manifolds" to reveal the overall responses of a brain area to a variety of stimuli. Encoding manifolds organize response properties globally: each point on an encoding manifold is a neuron, and nearby neurons respond similarly to the stimulus ensemble in time. We previously found, using a large stimulus ensemble including optic flows, that encoding manifolds for the retina were highly clustered, with each cluster corresponding to a different ganglion cell type. In contrast, the topology of the V1 manifold was continuous. Now, using responses of individual neurons from the Allen Institute Visual Coding-Neuropixels dataset in the mouse, we infer encoding manifolds for V1 and for five higher cortical visual areas (VISam, VISal, VISpm, VISlm, and VISrl). We show here that the encoding manifold topology computed only from responses to various grating stimuli is also continuous, not only for V1 but also for the higher visual areas, with smooth coordinates spanning it that include, among others, orientation selectivity and firing-rate magnitude. Surprisingly, the encoding manifold for gratings also provides information about natural scene responses. To investigate whether neurons respond more strongly to gratings or natural scenes, we plot the log ratio of natural scene responses to grating responses (mean firing rates) on the encoding manifold. This reveals a global coordinate axis organizing neurons' preferences between these two stimuli. This coordinate is orthogonal (i.e., uncorrelated) to that organizing firing rate magnitudes in VISp. Analyzing layer responses, a preference for gratings is concentrated in layer 6, whereas preference for natural scenes tends to be higher in layers 2/3 and 4. We also find that preference for natural scenes dominates the responses of neurons that prefer low (0.02 cpd) and high (0.32 cpd) spatial frequencies, rather than intermediate ones (0.04 to 0.16 cpd). Conclusion: while gratings seem limited and natural scenes unconstrained, machine learning algorithms can reveal subtle relationships between them beyond linear techniques.

Quantifying urban environments: Aesthetic preference through the lens of prospect-refuge theory

Prospect-refuge theory suggests that people prefer environments that offer both prospect, the ability to scan for resources, and refuge, a safe place to hide. Urban planners, architects and researchers alike have had a tendency to use prospect-refuge theory research on natural scenes to inform on the design of urban environments. Despite the large body of prospect-refuge theory research, the degree to which prospect and refuge impact preference in urban environments remain unclear. Here, we aim to first evaluate the relationship between prospect, refuge and preference for urban scene images. Secondly, we aim to evaluate the contributions of visual features and streetscape quality ratings to subjective ratings of prospect and refuge in order to create proxy values of prospect and refuge. Finally, we aim to understand how the proxy values impact preference for urban scenes, and if the proxy values created replicate the relationship between subjective measures of prospect, refuge and preference. First, we used participant ratings of prospect and refuge to predict participants' preference for 552 images of urban street scenes. Higher ratings of both prospect and refuge predicted greater image preference. We next used principal components analysis to summarize these images' low- and high-level visual features as well as participant ratings of streetscape qualities, such as walkability and disorder. Visual feature and streetscape quality principal components predicted prospect and refuge ratings in this first image set, providing “proxy measures' for prospect and refuge. In an independent set of 1119 images from Talen et al. (2022) for which prospect and refuge ratings were not available, we asked whether these proxies for prospect and refuge predicted preference. Findings replicated the effect that more refuge in an image predicts more preference. However, the proxy measure of prospect did not predict preference. In summary, our results show that refuge ratings do relate to preferences in urban environments, which extends prospect-refuge theory to more urban environments. Future work is needed to understand if prospect has different implications in more urban environments.

The role of tourists’ and residents emotions on resilient landscape restoration after extreme events

Forest areas and mountainous territories provide crucial ecosystem services, among which cultural-recreational services are of particular relevance in the Alps. In 2018, the mountain area of Northeast Italy was struck by the VAIA windstorm, resulting in extensive damage to trail networks and substantial landscape transformations in valleys. Restoring the storm-affected area while considering forest resilience and public preferences became a critical need. This research is aimed at assessing the landscape scenic preferences of visitors and residents of the area impacted by the storm with reference to alternative intervention strategies for restoring the VAIA-affected forests. The psychophysical approach was applied to understand residents preferences and a survey was conducted in May 2022, involving 713 residents in the Veneto region. Respondents were requested to evaluate the scenic quality of 8 landscape typologies characterized by panoramic and non-panoramic views, forests with and without fallen trees, and meadows cultivated or abandoned. They were also required to associate eight proposed categories of emotions with the landscapes, providing scores accordingly. To analyze the factors affecting landscape scenic quality we estimated two regression models. The first model highlighted that the scenic quality of the landscape is positively correlated with panoramic views, cultivated meadows, and forests, while abandoned areas or trees felled by VAIA have negative correlations. The second model demonstrated the existence of a strong relationship between landscape quality and the emotions evoked, with certain emotions significantly impacting scenic quality perception. The second model explains a higher proportion of the scenic quality scores than the first one (R2 = 0.788 vs R2 = 0.527) meaning that emotions are a better predictor of scenic quality than the physical characteristics of the territory. Our results suggest that, in order to improve the recreational services of the mountain territories, for restoring the VAIA-affected forests it will be necessary to remove the felled trees and at the same time increase the presence of panoramic views by substituting in some areas the forests with cultivated meadows.

Integrating Landscape Character Assessment with Community Values in a Scenic Evaluation Methodology for Regional Landscape Planning

The Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) method from the UK has proven effective in identifying landscape values and characteristics through a comprehensive mapping process. However, it is predominantly expert-led and lacks an evaluation of scenery, hindering the inclusion of the broader community’s preferences and visual attachment to their landscape. In Australia, the application of the Scenic Amenity Methodology (SAM) using Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping has engaged communities but has often overlooked the importance of landscape character. To overcome these limitations, this study presents an innovative scenic assessment methodology, referred to as modified Scenic Amenity Methodology (modified SAM). The methodology establishes landscape character types (LCTs) to map scenic preference ratings derived from community photo surveys. Simultaneously, it incorporates the visual exposure of the landscape from publicly accessible viewpoints, modelled using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The combination of scenic preferences and visual exposure enables mapping of the scenic amenity values held by the community. This methodology was first trialled in Bundaberg, then Cairns, the Whitsunday Islands, and, most recently, Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia. This paper presents the results of the Toowoomba study and reports on the challenges and limitations of informing landscape character type (LCT) values through a public photo survey, developing a scenic preference map from ratings of photos across a region, a map of the visual exposure of landscape elements from key public viewing locations, and, ultimately, a map of scenic amenity values across the Toowoomba Region. It indicates that integrating previous LCA approaches with public participation through community preferences is indeed feasible for regional landscape planning.

Exploring Landscape Design Intensity Effects on Visual Preferences and Eye Fixations in Urban Forests: Insights from Eye Tracking Technology

Individuals’ preferences for urban forest scenes are an essential factor in the design process. This study explores the connection between landscape design intensity, visual preferences, and eye fixations in urban forest scenes. Five pictures representing different urban forest scenes (plaza, lawn, garden path, pond, and rockery) were selected as stimuli, representing the original landscape design intensity. Three additional levels of design intensity (low, moderate, and high) were created by modifying the landscape elements of the original picture. A group of 50 participants was randomly assigned to observe the four levels of design intensity pictures within each type of landscape using eye-tracking technology. They also rated their preferences for each scene. In total, 250 participants took part in the study, with five groups observing five types of urban forest scenes. The results indicate that landscape design intensity has a positive impact on visual preferences, with moderate design intensity showing the strongest effect. However, the influence of design intensity and preferences also depends on the specific landscape scene. The fixation data did not show a significant relationship with design intensity but were associated with the type of landscape scene. In conclusion, this study suggests that moderate design intensity is recommended for urban forest design. However, it also highlights the importance of considering the specific landscape scene type. The research provides valuable insights into urban forest design and contributes to the understanding of eye-tracking technology in landscape perception studies.

The prototype effect in aesthetic preferences for visual scenes: A computational account

The prototype effect in aesthetic preferences for visual scenes: A computational account

The relationship between image statistics and aesthetic preference for art and natural scenes

The relationship between image statistics and aesthetic preference for art and natural scenes

합성곱 신경망과 이미지 피처 벡터 클러스터링을 활용한 국내 어촌마을 선호장면 분석

Local extinction is now a reality due to the designation of half of South Korea's counties and cities as extinction risk areas. The risk stage of population extinction is predicted to reach all local governments in the nation by 2047, so local governments are actively using the tourism sector to combat local extinction. This study used image feature vector clustering and convolution neural networks to analyse the preferred scene of a domestic fishing village. After crawling the domestic fishing village data made available by the Instagram hashtag (#) using Python 3.9.7, data analysis was carried out. The analysis led to the classification of Waemok Village into 4 clusters, White Yeoul Culture Village into 7, Banwol-Bakji Village into 11, and Abai Village into 4 clusters. This allowed for the understanding of the primary tourist attractions in each fishing village, as well as the determination of the kinds of travel-related information that visitors share on social media. According to this study, the convolution neural network is a complementary methodology that offers an alternative to existing content analysis in terms of the use of large amounts of data. It can be used as a source of fundamental information for marketing plans and effective decision-making in related fields like local government, travel, and the planning and development of tourism products.

The effect of correlated colour temperature and wall luminance on spatial brightness and scene preference in a windowless office setup

This study explores the impact of wall luminance and correlated colour temperature (CCT) on the observers’ brightness perception and scene preference in a controlled, windowless office environment. A two-interval-forced-choice experiment was conducted with the 20 lighting scenes derived from five CCTs (2500–10 000 K) and four luminances (12–120 cd/m²). The results from 20 observers showed that a higher wall luminance significantly increased brightness. At equal luminances, different CCT values had no significant effect on brightness, consistent with some reports that CCT is not a reliable predictor of brightness when other photometric factors are held constant. Scene preference increased as wall luminance increased to approximately 72 cd/m², but a further increase in wall luminance to 120 cd/m² had no significant impact on preference. As the CCT increased from 2500 K, the preference increased up to approximately 4000 K, followed by a substantial decline from 5715 to 10 000 K.

Assessment and Analysis of Citizens’ Perceptions of Visual Corridors in Tehran City

Today, in many cities, urban facades are typically forming according to the high-level codes, while citizens’ expectations and preferences are different from them. According to the studies conducted theory, using a conceptualization technique, related dimensions are assessed. For details, each facade is divided into three parts: ground floor, body, and coping. The individuals’ perceptions are investigated using electronic questionnaires and with panoramic photos. To assess vision while moving, studies are carried out at the sites (6 selected streets in Tehran) using semi-structured interviews as well as photographing the preferred scenes and the worst scenes (VEP method). According to the analyses, the main result of this research shows that overall perception was greater than in partial. The order in urban facades will not necessarily be perceived by the alignment of the openings and the creation of a uniform skyline, or restrictions on the color and type of facade materials. This is the same damage mentioned in the critique of the upper-level design codes in the present study. Therefore, it is better to consider only a limited number of various items in building facades, that people can perceive, fixed and controlled, and leave the rest to the owners and designers. In this way, the private rights of the owners and the art of the designers can be respected by observing the facade as a common area between private privacy and public privacy.

Through the Eyes of Forest Visitors—Perception and Scenic Preferences of Munich’s Urban Proximate Woodlands

With the increasing individualization of society, perceptions and attitudes towards nature and forest management is changing. Knowledge about motives for visiting woodlands as well as the aesthetic perception of forests can support forest management and communication strategies. In Central Europe, multifunctional, close-to-nature silviculture aims to convert the still dominating conifer monocultures towards mixed, structured forests to establish forests that are better adapted to the changing climate, thus enhancing the value for nature conservation and increasing their ability to provide ecosystem services. Reflecting these management objectives, we examined the perception and scenic preferences of the resulting forest stands in Munich´s urban proximate woodlands. We applied both surveys with choice experiments using visualizations of different forest stands and conducted Photovoice walks. In the choice experiments, most interviewees preferred the visualizations of mixed forests. Deadwood was appreciated in mixed stands. Knowledge about the positive effects of deadwood influenced this choice. With the Photovoice walks, it could be shown that many forest types and even monocultures were perceived to be very attractive, such as tall Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands. In addition, small details such as single trees, colorful leaves, or small vegetation features contributed to a positive perception of the forest.

(How) Visual properties affect the perception and description of transitive events

In a non-verbal aesthetic judgement task and a pre-registered production task, we tested how the orientation of the patient relative to the agent in a visual scene affects the perception and description of the depicted transitive event. Previous research has shown that a visual property like the position of the patient relative to the agent can affect speakers’ verbalization of events. Here, we investigated whether orientation constitutes another factor besides position that affects scene description. While speakers of German displayed an overall preference for scenes in which agent and patient faced each other, these scenes needed more time for sentence planning than the same scenes that showed the patient looking in the same direction and thus away from the agent. Moreover, we elicited more patient-initial sentences for face-to-face scenes than for same-direction scenes. The increase in patient-initial sentences was comparable to the increase in patient-initial sentences for scenes with left-positioned patients as compared to right-positioned patients. Based on our findings, we argue that manipulations of both position and orientation can change the prominence of the patient. The more prominent the patient (facing the agent, being placed to the left of the agent), the more likely speakers are to choose the patient as the sentence-initial subject. Hence, subtle changes of visual properties may affect not only how speakers perceive an event but also how they describe an event. Our findings are of relevance for a range of tasks that use visual materials.

Visual Landscape Quality Relationship towards Students’ Well-Being

Plants are identify as a valuable element in visual landscape assessment. This study examines the visual landscape quality (VLQ) relationship towards students’ well-being. This study identifies the preferences of planting composition scenes through the photo-based survey method. The survey employs 51 scenes with 5-points Likert-scale rating. The PLS-SEM was used to interpret the findings. The findings show the preferred scenes are complexity and coherent arrangement, moderate density, and natural plants, compared to openness and mysterious characteristics. These characteristics support students’ engagement and positive emotions. This finding will assist the campus designers in improving the VLQ towards students’ well-being. Keywords: Visual landscape quality; planting composition; students’ well-being; landscape preference eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i19.3258

Gaze correlates of view preference: Comparing natural and urban scenes

When looking out of a window, natural views are usually associated with restorative qualities and are given a higher preference than urban scenes. Previous research has shown that gaze behaviour might differ based on the natural or urban content of views. A lower number of fixations has been associated with the aesthetic evaluation of natural scenes while, when looking at an urban environment, a high preference has been correlated with more exploratory gaze behaviours. To characterise gaze correlates of view preference across natural and urban scenes, we collected and analysed experimental data featuring subjective preference ratings, eye-tracking measures, verbal reasoning associated with preference and nature relatedness scores. Consistent with the literature, our results confirm that natural scenes are more preferred than urban views and that gaze behaviours depend on view type and preference. Observing natural scenes was characterised by lower numbers of fixations and saccades, and longer fixation durations, compared to urban views. However, for both view types, most preferred scenes led to more fixations and saccades. Our findings also showed that nature relatedness may be correlated with visual exploration of scenes. Individual preferences and personality attributes, therefore, should be accounted for in studies on view preference and gaze behaviour.

GIS-Based Aesthetic Appraisal of Short-Range Viewsheds of Coastal Dune and Forest Landscapes

This paper demonstrates the possibilities of a Geographical Information System (GIS) for investigating and explicating the spatial variation of the short-range viewshed aesthetic appeal in a World Heritage coastal dune and forest area. The study pursues the following objectives: (1) develop and trial a GIS-based algorithm for computing the Aesthetic Appeal Index for a Short-Range Viewshed (ǣ); (2) deliver an output map showing the spatial variation of the computed ǣ values in the target territory and distribution of the zones with high scenic quality and potential aesthetic ecosystem services (PAES); and (3) assess management alternatives in zones with high PAES and high conservation value. This study combines two key innovative aspects. First, it integrates an objective digital map of habitats with subjective scenic preferences of coastal forest and dune landscapes based on psychophysical and cognitive perceptions of scenic beauty. Second, it applies a GIS-based algorithm to translate subjective scenic preferences to an output map of ǣ. The study’s main conclusion is that the combined aesthetic appraisal of the immediate and foreground viewshed of coastal forests and dunes, by applying a specially created GIS algorithm, allows an assessment of the scenic quality of this landscape reliably in statistical terms.

Evidence-based art in the hospital.

BackgroundEvidence-based art is the investigation of art effects and art investigated for effects. In this study the evidence regarding patient preferences for art styles and effects of art in nonpsychiatric hospitals and outpatient departments was reviewed.MethodsResults from original articles were retrieved by a scoping PubMed search and by browsing the internet using the terms “evidence based art”, “evidence based design”, “art and hospital” and “design and hospital”, “art effect”, “design effect”, “landscape preference” and “abstract art figurative art”. The quality of art was not operationalized as a criterion.ResultsOf the articles 7 original sources showed patient preference for natural scenes and figurative art, 2 studies showed no preference, 16 studies showed positive art effects on well-being and behavior and 5 studies showed a positive effect of nature pictures on measurable findings.ConclusionControversial results together with theoretical aspects suggest natural scenes in patient rooms and diverse art in public areas.

Impaired social attention detected through eye movements in children with early-onset epilepsy.

Children with early-onset epilepsy (CWEOE; epilepsy onset before 5years) exhibit impaired social functioning, but social attention has not yet been examined. In this study we sought to explore visual attention via eye tracking as a component of social attention and examine its relationship with social functioning and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) risk scores. Forty-seven CWEOE (3-63months) and 41 controls (3-61months) completed two eye-tracking tasks: (1) preference for social versus nonsocial naturalistic scenes, and (2) face region preference task. ASD risk was measured via the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers or Conners Early Childhood Total Score. Social functioning was assessed via the Greenspan Social-Emotional Growth Chart, or Infant-Toddler Social & Emotional Assessment Competence Scale, or Conners Early Childhood Social Functioning Scale, depending on age. Fixation preferences for social scenes and eyes were compared between groups and evaluated by age and social functioning scores. Regression analysis revealed that CWEOE viewed the social scene to a significantly less degree than controls. The greatest difference was found between the youngest CWEOE and controls. Fixation duration was independently and significantly related to social functioning scores. There were no significant differences between CWEOE and controls in the face scanning task, and there was no significant relationship between either task and ASD risk scores. CWEOE exhibit task-specific atypical social attention early in the course of the disease. This may be an early marker of impaired social development, and it suggests abnormal social brain development.

The Role of Complexity, Coherence, and Imageability on Visual Preference of Urban Street Scenes

This study meant to explore the role of several visual quality concepts, i.e., complexity, coherence, and imageability, on people’s preference for street scenes in the urban area. The study chose three different street characteristics in the town of Malang-Indonesia as the case study sites that consist of commercial street, historic commercial street, and historic residential street. This research applied a field survey using a questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale and seven-point multiple rating scale techniques. There were 363 respondents participated in the survey. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and simple regressions analysis to identify the influence of complexity, coherence, and imageability quality on urban street scenes’ visual preference. Results indicated that coherence and imageability consistently play essential roles in people’s preference for the three types of street scenes. Meanwhile, complexity quality only influences visual preference on a historic residential street and does not influence people’s preferences on commercial streets.

#urbanforest: cultural ecosystem services of urban trees through the lens of Instagram

Purpose The non-material benefits which people derive from ecosystems, cultural ecosystem services (CES), can be difficult to measure and quantify. This study aims to demonstrate the usefulness of social media analysis. Design/methodology/approach The widespread use of social media applications has provided a novel methodology for obtaining crowd-sourced data, which can reveal patterns in how social media users interact with urban greenspace and participate in place-making activities. This study explores how urban trees are represented in images tagged with the city of Bolzano, Italy, and uploaded over the course of a year to the image-sharing application Instagram. Findings A third of all the images contained some elements of green nature, with 3.1% of the images portraying urban trees as the main subject and 11% with urban trees as background features. Seasonal preferences for winter and summer scenes emerged. Accompanying text, in the form of hashtags and image descriptions, was mostly positive and showed how enthusiastically people describe urban nature. An assessment of the images in terms of CES revealed that beyond aesthetic factors and the inspiration to take photographs of nature, a wide range of CES are represented, reflecting the recognition of the benefits of urban trees by Instagrammers. The collection of images provided a unique snapshot of the city of Bolzano. Practical implications This reinforces the importance of urban trees within planning policy for providing sense of place, recreation and stress relief for residents and tourists. Originality/value The study builds on recent advances in social media research, focussing on the important field of urban CES.

The Alignment of Agent-First Preferences with Visual Event Representations: Contrasting German and Arabic

How does non-linguistic, visual experience affect language production? A series of experiments addressed this question by examining linguistic and visual preferences for agent positions in transitive action scenarios. In Experiment 1, 30 native German speakers described event scenes where agents were positioned either to the right or to the left of patients. Produced utterances had longer speech onset times for scenes with right- rather than left-positioned agents, suggesting that the visual organization of events can affect sentence production. In Experiment 2 another cohort of 36 native German participants indicated their aesthetic preference for left- or right-positioned agents in mirrored scenes and displayed a preference for scenes with left-positioned agents. In Experiment 3, 37 Arabic native participants performed the same non-verbal task showing the reverse preference. Our findings demonstrate that non-linguistic visual preferences seem to affect sentence production, which in turn may rely on the writing system of a specific language.