A wealth of evidence for the automaticity of perceptual organization processes points toward the existence of a global-to-local processing bias in early perceptual stages. Global features are encoded and spontaneously reported during early conscious vision, resulting in the perception of coherent objects prior to identifying detailed information. Yet, results from experiments that presented illusory figure presentation below the perceptual threshold to study the reliance of perceptual organization on visual awareness have shown conflicting findings, leaving open the question of how global features interact during figure perception. The present study will examine the interaction between symmetry and perceptual completion under conditions of restricted awareness.

This is an UNPAID research project.

Faculty Advisor

  • Professor: Alfredo Spagna
  • Department/School: Psychology
  • Location: Schermerhorn 318
  • Studying the interaction between attention, perception, imagination, and consciousness using behavioural, psychophysiological, and neuroimaging methods with cutting-edge spatiotemporal resolution.

Project Timeline

  • Earliest starting date: 3/1/2021
  • End date: 5/15/2021
  • Number of hours per week of research expected during Spring 2021: ~6

Candidate requirements

  • Skill sets: Data collection and database management.
  • Student eligibility: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, master’s
  • International students on F1 or J1 visa: eligible
  • Academic Credit Possible: Yes
  • Additional comments: Interested in studying the interaction between visual conscious processing and attention using a combination of behavioural and eye-tracking technology. Knowledge of Python is a plus.