Hyperbolic representation of global structure of visual space

Journal/Book: J Math Psychol. 1997; 41: 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495. Academic Press Inc Jnl-Comp Subscriptions. 89-98.

Abstract: Most studies on visual perception assume a limited region in visual space to be Euclidean. In a series of alley experiments, in which extensive configurations of stimulus points in a frameless space were dealt with, it was found that a horizontal or slanted plane extending from the subject is best described by hyperbolic geometry, whereas a frontoparallel plane in front of the subject is best described by Euclidean geometry. Theoretical problems around these findings and two properties of visual space (VS) were discussed: (1) VS is closed in the sense that no percepts can appear at an infinite distance. (2) VS is dynamic in the sense that its global structure critically depends upon the configuration of objects in the physical space. Two questions were also discussed: (1) How far is VS extended beyond the farthest percept under various conditions? (2) How does the sky, as the boundary of VS, in daytime as well as at night, change its shape in accordance with what we see in VS?

Note: Article Indow T, Univ Calif Irvine, Sch Social Sci, Dept Cognit Sci, Irvine,CA 92697 USA

Keyword(s): APPARENT FRONTOPARALLEL PLANE; ALLEYS; DISTANCE; PARALLEL

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