Learning Objectives

  • Interpret the computational difficulties the visual system must overcome in recognizing objects as themselves under a multitude of situations and angles.
  • Assess the difference between top-down processing and bottom-up processing and how they affect object perception.
  • Describe the gestalt laws of perceptual grouping.
  • Explain why the ventral pathway is critical for object perception.
  • Discuss how we can distinguish human faces from doll and mannequin faces, and interpret how object perception research can inform the airport screening process.