Structural information theory
Subtitle: the simplicity of visual form
By: Emanuel L. J. Leeuwenberg, Peter A. van der Helm
Contributors: Helm, Peter A. van der, author
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Cambridge
Language: eng
Number of pages: 346
ISBN-13: 9781107029606
Subjects: Information theory in psychology; Human information processing
Description: "Structural information theory is a coherent theory about the way the human visual system organises a raw visual stimulus into objects and object parts. To humans, a visual stimulus usually has one clear interpretation even though, in theory, any stimulus can be interpreted in numerous ways. To explain this, the theory focuses on the nature of perceptual interpretations rather than on underlying process mechanisms and adopts the simplicity principle which promotes efficiency of internal resources rather than the likelihood principle which promotes veridicality in the external world. This theoretically underpinned starting point gives rise to quantitative models and verifiable predictions for many visual phenomena, including amodal completion, subjective contours, transparency, brightness contrast, brightness assimilation and neon illusions. It also explains phenomena such as induced temporal order, temporal context effects and hierarchical dominance effects, and extends to evaluative pattern qualities such as distinctiveness, interestingness and beauty"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note: Introduction; Part I. Towards a Theory of Visual Form: 1. Borders of perception; 2. Attributes of visual form; 3. Process and representation; 4. Models and principles; 5. Assumptions and foundations; Part II. Applications to Visual Form: 6. Formal coding model; 7. A perceptual coding manual; 8. Preference effects; 9. Time effects; 10. Hierarchy effects; Part III. Extensions: 11. Perception beyond SIT; 12. SIT beyond perception; Overview; Conclusion.