Detection of
vertical elements among oblique ones is enhanced when the former are arranged
so as to form a schematic face-like pattern. This face-superiority effect at
the detection level indicates top-down/bottom-up interactions between remote
visual processing stages. (From Gorea
& Julesz (1990). Perception, 19, 5-16.)
Examples
of the stimuli used in the experiments. In (a), (b), and (c) target stimuli are
embedded among lines oriented at ±45°. These angle differences between target and
background elements yielded 100% correct detection performances and were not
used in the actual experiments. Stimulus (d), where ‘noise’ elements are oriented
at ±14°
and ±76°,
was used in the experiments. (a) and (d) show the ‘face’ stimulus (middle-right
in both cases). Symmetrical and asymmetrical ‘nonface’ stimuli are shown in (b)
and (c).