Extremal edges: a powerful cue to depth perception and figure-ground organization

Psychological Science
Stephen E Palmer, Tandra Ghose

Abstract

Extremal edges (EEs) are projections of viewpoint-specific horizons of self-occlusion on smooth convex surfaces. An ecological analysis of viewpoint constraints suggests that an EE surface is likely to be closer to the observer than the non-EE surface on the other side of the edge. In two experiments, one using shading gradients and the other using texture gradients, we demonstrated that EEs operate as strong cues to relative depth perception and figure-ground organization. Image regions with an EE along the shared border were overwhelmingly perceived as closer than either flat or equally convex surfaces without an EE along that border. A further demonstration suggests that EEs are more powerful than classical figure-ground cues, including even the joint effects of small size, convexity, and surroundedness.

References

Sep 16, 1976·Biological cybernetics·J J Koenderink, A J van Doorn
Sep 4, 1992·Science·K Nakayama, S Shimojo
May 1, 1989·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance·C Palmer
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Jul 26, 2006·Spatial Vision·Rüdiger Von der Heydt, Rachel Pierson

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Citations

Dec 3, 2008·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance·Stephen E Palmer, Joseph L Brooks
Feb 12, 2010·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Joseph L Brooks, Stephen E Palmer
May 14, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Nan R Zhang, Rüdiger von der Heydt
Jan 8, 2016·Vision Research·Brian HuErnst Niebur
Dec 8, 2015·Attention, Perception & Psychophysics·Tandra Ghose, Stephen E Palmer
Jun 2, 2009·Journal of Physiology, Paris·Matthew LawlorSteven W Zucker
May 9, 2012·Seeing and Perceiving·Daniel Goldreich, Mary A Peterson
Jun 29, 2010·Vision Research·Li-Chuan HsuSu-Ling Yeh
Oct 25, 2014·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Ralph G HaleAisha P Siddiqui
Dec 4, 2012·Vision Research·Frédéric Devinck, Lothar Spillmann
Sep 2, 2014·Vision Research·Sudarshan RamenahalliErnst Niebur
Sep 8, 2009·Progress in Brain Research·Mary A Peterson, Elizabeth Salvagio
Dec 17, 2014·Perception·Rolf NelsonStephen E Palmer
Jan 1, 2011·I-Perception·Barbara Gillam
Jun 29, 2018·Interface Focus·Benjamin KunsbergSteven W Zucker
Jul 21, 2020·Attention, Perception & Psychophysics·James M Brown, Richard W Plummer

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