Perception and memory of objects and parts

Abstract

What is the role of objects in shape perception? To investigate this question we studied judgments of connected two-dimensional line figures. Observers viewed two figures sequentially and made the same or different judgments. The comparisons were either between two whole objects or between a whole object and a part. These comparisons are referred to as whole and partial comparisons. A whole-comparison advantage was found; subjects were faster and more accurate on whole comparisons than on partial comparisons. This advantage occurred with several procedures and sets of stimuli. The whole advantage did not occur when the whole object was not completely connected. These findings provide evidence for the perceptual significance of objects. More specifically, they are compatible with the existence of a hierarchical representation of an object and its parts.