Abstract
The concepts of stability, defined as the temporal duration of a particular organization, and attraction, defined as the likelihood at any given moment that a particular perceptual organization is being experienced, were studied in regard to the reversible figure-ground phenomenon. Some factors that might increase the stability and attraction of a figural organization were investigated. It was found that neither “complexity” nor “meaningfulness” can increase the stability and attraction of a figural organization of a reversible pattern unless the added elements are functionally integrated with the central contour. However, it is maintained that, while some patterns of stimulation invariably elicit functional integration, there are others which elicit integration for some perceivers and not others.
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