Connecting visual objects reduces perceived numerosity and density for sparse but not dense patterns
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Anobile, Giovanni
Cicchini, Guido Marco
Pomè, Antonella
Burr, David Charles
Abstract / Description
How is numerosity encoded by the visual system? – directly, or derived indirectly from texture density? We recently suggested that the numerosity of sparse patterns is encoded directly by dedicated mechanisms (which have been described as the “Approximate Number System” ANS). However, at high dot densities, where items become “crowded” and difficult to segregate, “texture-density” mechanisms come into play. Here we tested the importance of item segmentation on numerosity and density perception at various stimulus densities, by measuring the effect of connecting visual objects with thin lines. The results confirmed many previous studies showing that connecting items robustly reduces the apparent numerosity of patterns of moderate density. We further showed that the apparent density of moderate-density patterns is also reduced by connecting the dots. Crucially, we found that both these effects are strongly reduced at higher numerosities. Indeed for density judgments, the effect reverses, so connecting dots in dense patterns increases the apparent density (as expected from the physical characteristics). The results provide clear support for the three-regime framework of number perception, and suggest that for moderately sparse stimuli, numerosity – but not texture-density – is perceived directly.
Keyword(s)
numerical cognition Approximate Number System numerosity discrimination numerosity perception texture-density texture perception visual segmentationPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2017-12-22
Journal title
Journal of Numerical Cognition
Volume
3
Issue
2
Page numbers
133–146
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Anobile, G., Cicchini, G. M., Pomè, A., & Burr, D. C. (2017). Connecting visual objects reduces perceived numerosity and density for sparse but not dense patterns. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 3(2), 133–146. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v3i2.38
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jnc.v3i2.38.pdfAdobe PDF - 497.17KBMD5: fc28c54fad4bc6c9aa96e052c28009da
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Anobile, Giovanni
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Cicchini, Guido Marco
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Pomè, Antonella
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Burr, David Charles
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-21T11:42:45Z
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Made available on2018-11-21T11:42:45Z
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Date of first publication2017-12-22
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Abstract / DescriptionHow is numerosity encoded by the visual system? – directly, or derived indirectly from texture density? We recently suggested that the numerosity of sparse patterns is encoded directly by dedicated mechanisms (which have been described as the “Approximate Number System” ANS). However, at high dot densities, where items become “crowded” and difficult to segregate, “texture-density” mechanisms come into play. Here we tested the importance of item segmentation on numerosity and density perception at various stimulus densities, by measuring the effect of connecting visual objects with thin lines. The results confirmed many previous studies showing that connecting items robustly reduces the apparent numerosity of patterns of moderate density. We further showed that the apparent density of moderate-density patterns is also reduced by connecting the dots. Crucially, we found that both these effects are strongly reduced at higher numerosities. Indeed for density judgments, the effect reverses, so connecting dots in dense patterns increases the apparent density (as expected from the physical characteristics). The results provide clear support for the three-regime framework of number perception, and suggest that for moderately sparse stimuli, numerosity – but not texture-density – is perceived directly.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationAnobile, G., Cicchini, G. M., Pomè, A., & Burr, D. C. (2017). Connecting visual objects reduces perceived numerosity and density for sparse but not dense patterns. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 3(2), 133–146. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v3i2.38en_US
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ISSN2363-8761
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1256
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1448
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v3i2.38
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Keyword(s)numerical cognitionen_US
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Keyword(s)Approximate Number Systemen_US
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Keyword(s)numerosity discriminationen_US
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Keyword(s)numerosity perceptionen_US
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Keyword(s)texture-densityen_US
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Keyword(s)texture perceptionen_US
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Keyword(s)visual segmentationen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleConnecting visual objects reduces perceived numerosity and density for sparse but not dense patternsen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue2
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Journal titleJournal of Numerical Cognition
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Page numbers133–146
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Volume3
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record