Perceptual Grouping Explains Similarities in Constellations Across Cultures

Kemp, Charles; Hamacher, Duane W.; Little, Daniel R.; Cropper, Simon J.

doi:10.1177/09567976211044157

Cited by 13 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Since the background data is fixed, a complementary hypothesis arises: the sky background itself may be the significant driver of constellation shapes, overpowering the role of the culture typology. Variants of the Big Dipper, Orion, and other star groups recur across cultures [19,21], but does diversity remain in the design of line figures? We answer the question: II The sky region: Is there recurrent universality in the visual signature of constellations per region of the sky, or, on the contrary, diversity?…”

Section: [Hypothesis Ii] the Region Of The Sky Associates With The Vi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The network signature of constellation line figures

Bucur

2022

PLoS ONE

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In traditional astronomies across the world, groups of stars in the night sky were linked into constellations—symbolic representations rich in meaning and with practical roles. In some sky cultures, constellations are represented as line (or connect-the-dot) figures, which are spatial networks drawn over the fixed background of stars. We analyse 1802 line figures from 56 sky cultures spanning all continents, in terms of their network, spatial, and brightness features, and ask what associations exist between these visual features and culture type or sky region. First, an embedded map of constellations is learnt, to show clusters of line figures. We then form the network of constellations (as linked by their similarity), to study how similar cultures are by computing their assortativity (or homophily) over the network. Finally, we measure the diversity (or entropy) index for the set of constellations drawn per sky region. Our results show distinct types of line figures, and that many folk astronomies with oral traditions have widespread similarities in constellation design, which do not align with cultural ancestry. In a minority of sky regions, certain line designs appear universal, but this is not the norm: in the majority of sky regions, the line geometries are diverse.

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Section: [Hypothesis Ii] the Region Of The Sky Associates With The Vi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies stated some cognitive basis for forming star groups without lines (for 30 constellations [22], and for 27 cultures [21]), finding that perceptual grouping can explain part of the popular asterisms.…”

Section: [Hypothesis Ii] the Region Of The Sky Associates With The Vi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The network signature of constellation line figures

Bucur

2022

PLoS ONE

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“…We recently assembled such a database by drawing in part on the set of Stellarium sky cultures (Kemp et al, 2021). Figure 1A shows the groupings that appear most frequently across the 27 sky cultures included in the database.…”

Section: Star Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Just as computational methods have been used to analyze star groups (Kemp et al, 2021) and constellation figures (Bucur, 2021) across cultures, computational analyses of star stories have also been developed. Berezkin pioneered this approach by compiling a catalogue of world mythology and folklore (Y. E. Berezkin, 2015) that draws on data from around a thousand cultures and that includes stories about stars and other celestial objects in addition to stories about many other aspects of culture.…”

Section: Constellation Storiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing constellations across cultures

Kemp,

Hamacher,

Little

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Cultural astronomy reveals ways in which perception and culture have shaped the interpretation of the night sky. COMPARING CONSTELLATIONS ACROSS CULTURES 3 Comparing Constellations across CulturesJohn Herschel referred to the Western constellations as "uncouth figures and outlines of men and monsters," and claimed that astronomers "treat them lightly, or altogether disregard them, except for briefly naming remarkable stars, as α Leonis, β Scorpii, &c. &c., by letters of the Greek alphabet attached to them" (Herschel, 1842, p 156). His contemporary Thomas Dick was even more scathing, and wrote that these "fantastical groups ... may comport with the degrading arts of the astrologer," but are "not only incompetent to the purposes, but completely repugnant to the noble elevation of modern astronomical science"(Dick, 1842, p 46).

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“…Research on the identification of constellations across cultures is an example that reveals both similarities and differences across cultures. Using computational modeling, Kemp et al (2022) argued that perceptual properties such as brightness and proximity account for many of the groupings that occur across the 27 cultures they investigated. Although the interpretation of the constellations -through the names and stories -can vary across cultures, the takeaway is one of convergence across cultures due to basic perceptual processes more than had been appreciated.…”

Section: How Does Culture Influence Cognition?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Consideration of Culture in Cognition: How We Can Enrich Methodology and Theory

Gutchess¹,

Rajaram²

2022

Preprint

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In this paper, we argue that adopting an inclusive approach where diverse cultures are represented in research is of prime importance for cognitive psychology. To date, the inclusion of culture in cognition has not been entrenched in the mainstream of cognitive psychology. We propose that the time has come for this to change. In an analysis of articles in representative cognitive psychology journals over the five-year period of 2016-2020, we find that only approximately 7% of articles consider culture, broadly defined. Of these articles, a majority (83%) focus on language or bilingualism, with the small number of remaining articles considering a variety of aspects of culture on an array of cognitive processes. As our discipline aspires to make research more global and collaborative, cognitive psychologists will benefit by expanding sample selection beyond the WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) samples that have constituted the vast majority of research participants thus far. Advances in methodology and theory made possible by the last century of cognitive research can be not only leveraged, but also will be enriched by a study of more diverse populations, paving the way to uncover cognitive processes that may be universal or can systematically differ as a function of cultural variations. To make a case for broadening this scope, we characterize the types of research conducted thus far that bring a cross-cultural lens to the study of cognition, and we discuss classic cognitive research that is in line with incorporating a cross-cultural perspective and the compatibility between a cross-cultural perspective and the classic tenets of cognitive psychology. Recognizing that not every research question calls for a cross-cultural perspective, we make suggestions for how researchers can enrich the study of cognitive psychology by broadening their approaches to incorporate greater cultural representation in the study of cognition.

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Perceptual Grouping Explains Similarities in Constellations Across Cultures

Cited by 13 publications

References 35 publications

The network signature of constellation line figures

The network signature of constellation line figures

Comparing constellations across cultures

Consideration of Culture in Cognition: How We Can Enrich Methodology and Theory

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