Perception can differ even when the stimulus information is the same. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of experience and relevance on visual perception. We examined the influence of perceptual relevance in an auxiliary task on subsequent perception of an ambiguous stimulus. Observers were presented with an ambiguous motion stimulus that could either be perceived as rotating dot pairs (''local'') or pulsating geometrical figures (''global''). Prolonged perception of this stimulus is characterized by a ''shift to global'', but it remained unclear whether this process is due to relevance of the global percept or mere exposure to the stimulus. During a relevance learning phase over 5 successive days, participants were divided into conditions determining the relevant percept in an auxiliary task: local, global, or none (active exposure). In a pre-and posttest, individual points of subjective equality between local and global percepts were measured. Results indicate that there is indeed a shift to global. Interestingly, auxiliary task relevance does not seem to modify this process.

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Visual perception is the result of a highly complex process depending on both stimulus and observer characteristics and importantly, their interactions. Generating robust theories and making precise predictions in light of this complexity can be challenging and the interaction of stimulus- and observer-related effects is often neglected or understated. In the current study, we examined inter- and intra-individual differences and the effects of a wide range of three stimulus characteristics (i.e., spatial distance, temporal distance, and spatial location). Our results indicate that not all individuals show the same group average stimulus-driven effects on the perception of a MQ, and that these effects are not always equal across the entire stimulus range. Moreover, we observed that there are clear individual differences in spontaneous perceptual dynamics and that these can be overridden by some, but not all stimulus manipulations. We conclude that considering different stimulus manipulations and different observers and their interactions can provide a more nuanced and informative view on the processes governing visual perception.

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5Perception can differ even when the stimulus information is the same. Previous studies have 6 demonstrated the importance of experience and relevance on visual perception. We examined the 7 influence of perceptual relevance in an auxiliary task on subsequent perception of an ambiguous 8 stimulus. Observers were presented with an ambiguous motion stimulus that could either be perceived 9 as rotating dot-pairs ('local') or pulsating geometrical figures ('global'). Prolonged perception of this 10 stimulus is characterized by a 'shift to global', but it remained unclear whether this process is due to 11 relevance of the global percept or mere exposure to the stimulus. During a learning phase over five 12 successive days, participants were divided into conditions determining the relevant percept in an 13 auxiliary task: local, global, or none (active exposure). In a pre-and post-test, individual points of 14 subjective equality between 'local' and 'global' percepts were measured. Results indicate that there is 15 indeed a 'shift to global'. Interestingly, auxiliary task relevance does not seem to modify this process. 16