Perception of Ambiguous Figure-Ground Patterns as a Function of past Experience

Abstract

The role of past experience in influencing the perception of an ambiguous figure-ground (FG) was studied. The task was to state whether the left or right halves of FGs were seen as figures. For 15 Ss there was prior training comprising the esthetic judgment of the left half of each of these FGs, while 15 additional Ss judged the right half. A control group received no training (N = 20). The majority of shapes perceived as the figure in the FGs were the shapes judged during the training (p < .05). Based on the findings of this and previous work it was proposed that a change in FG organization cannot occur unless the shape seen as the ground acquires a greater degree of distinctiveness compared to the opposite shape.