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  3. Structural Information Theory
  • Cited by 8
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    • Publisher:
      Cambridge University Press
      Publication date:
      05 December 2012
      22 November 2012
      ISBN:
      9781139342223
      9781107029606
      9781107531758
      DOI:
      https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139342223
      Dimensions:
      (228 x 152 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.62kg, 333 Pages
      Dimensions:
      (229 x 152 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.49kg, 340 Pages
      • Subjects:
      Life Sciences, Neurosciences, Psychology, Cognition
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    Subjects:
    Life Sciences, Neurosciences, Psychology, Cognition
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    Book description

    Structural information theory is a coherent theory about the way the human visual system organises a raw visual stimulus into objects and object parts. To humans, a visual stimulus usually has one clear interpretation even though, in theory, any stimulus can be interpreted in numerous ways. To explain this, the theory focuses on the nature of perceptual interpretations rather than on underlying process mechanisms and adopts the simplicity principle which promotes efficiency of internal resources rather than the likelihood principle which promotes veridicality in the external world. This theoretically underpinned starting point gives rise to quantitative models and verifiable predictions for many visual phenomena, including amodal completion, subjective contours, transparency, brightness contrast, brightness assimilation and neon illusions. It also explains phenomena such as induced temporal order, temporal context effects and hierarchical dominance effects, and extends to evaluative pattern qualities such as distinctiveness, interestingness and beauty.

    Reviews

    ‘Whether you are familiar with structural information theory or not, you will enjoy this systematic presentation by Emanuel Leeuwenberg, its original proponent, and Peter van der Helm, its main formal developer. Through twelve chapters, including a coding manual, they distil order out of perception and cognition, like the demons invoked in the introduction. SIT provides a powerful language for evaluating how strongly the mind strives for simplicity; the book provides an optimal context for evaluating the strength of SIT.’

    Walter Gerbino - University of Trieste

    ‘Leeuwenberg and van der Helm have assembled the definitive statement on their influential theory of the coding of visual forms. SIT is the most thorough system available for capturing the essence of a structure’s simplicity, so this volume will be required reading for those interested in this far-reaching and quintessentially Gestalt concept.’

    James Pomerantz - Rice University

    '[This] book is a well-written, well-structured overview of SIT at the endpoint of its development. The underlying (meta)theoretical principles and assumptions are spelled out clearly. The empirical support is reviewed in just enough detail to understand all the necessary details. The systematic and coherent presentation of this material makes it relatively easy to digest. The different sections and chapters contain useful previews and interim summaries. The book has a large number of richly detailed coding examples as well as many visual examples, with Leeuwenberg’s personal touch (in addition to having a keen eye as a visual phenomenologist, he is also very talented in drawing and painting).'

    Johan Wagemans Source: Perception

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