This project comprises a broad-based investigation into visual object and surface perception. Much of human thought and behavior is organized around the perception and representation of objects. Among the fundamental, unsolved problems of object perception is unit formation: How do we obtain descriptions of connected objects in the three-dimensional world despite interruptions - across space and time-of their contours and surfaces in their projections to the eyes? Answering these questions of unit formation and related aspects of object perception is the goal of the research. Psychophysical experiments using objective performance tasks with normal, human adult observers are used to probe the information (stimulus relationships) involved, the representations formed and the processing characteristics of human object perception. The data are used to construct geometric and information-processing models of the contour and surface relationships that lead to perception of connected objects, as well as to inform models of the neural activity underlying perception. Building on prior work, the current project extends the empirical and theoretical efforts into the less well-studied domains of three-dimensional relationships in object formation and dynamic (motion-carried) information. Particularly exciting is the suggestion in recent work that common principles may describe unit formation in two and three dimensions, and dynamic vision. These efforts will lead toward a better understanding of fundamental cognitive and behavioral processes - those that achieve representations of objects, surfaces and scenes. The results will have manifold implications for understanding normal and impaired human function, for constructing artificial (including robotic) vision systems for probing the neural mechanisms of perception.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY013518-03
Application #
6635741
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BBBP-4 (01))
Program Officer
Oberdorfer, Michael
Project Start
2001-03-01
Project End
2005-02-28
Budget Start
2003-03-01
Budget End
2004-02-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$207,625
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
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Kalar, Donald J; Garrigan, Patrick; Wickens, Thomas D et al. (2010) A unified model of illusory and occluded contour interpolation. Vision Res 50:284-99
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Fantoni, C; Gerbino, W; Kellman, P J (2008) Approximation, torsion, and amodally-completed surfaces. Vision Res 48:1196-216
Garrigan, Patrick; Kellman, Philip J (2008) Perceptual learning depends on perceptual constancy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105:2248-53
Keane, Brian P; Lu, Hongjing; Kellman, Philip J (2007) Classification images reveal spatiotemporal contour interpolation. Vision Res 47:3460-75
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Kellman, Philip J; Garrigan, Patrick; Shipley, Thomas F et al. (2005) 3-d interpolation in object perception: evidence from an objective performance paradigm. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 31:558-83
Kellman, Philip J; Garrigan, Patrick; Shipley, Thomas F (2005) Object interpolation in three dimensions. Psychol Rev 112:586-609

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