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Visual multistability: influencing factors and analogies to auditory streaming

Sensory inputs can be ambiguous. A physically constant stimulus that induces several perceptual alternatives is called multistable. Many factors can influence perception. In this thesis I investigate factors that affect visual multistability. All presented studies use a pattern-component rivalry stimulus consisting of two gratings drifting in opposite directions (called the plaid stimulus). This induces an “integrated” perception of a moving plaid (the pattern) or a “segregated” perception of overlaid gratings (the components). One study (chapter 2) investigates parameter dependence of a plaid stimulus on perception, with particular emphasis on the first percept. Specifically, it addresses how the enclosed angle (opening angle) affects the perception at stimulus onset and during prolonged viewing. The effects that are shown persist even if the stimulus is rotated. On a more abstract level it is shown that percepts can influence each other over time (chapter 3) which emphasizes the importance of instructions and report mode. In particular, it relates to the decision which percepts are instructed to be reported at all as well as which percepts can be reported as separate entities and which are pooled into the same response option. A further abstract level (predictability of a stimulus change, chapter 5) shows that transferring effects from one modality to another modality (specifically from audition to vision) requires careful choice of stimulus parameters. In this context, we give considerations to the proposal for a wider usage of sequential stopping rules (SSR, chapter 4), especially in studies where effect sizes are hard to estimate a priori. This thesis contributes to the field of visual multistability by providing novel experimental insights into pattern-component rivalry and by linking these findings to data on sequential dependencies, to the optimization of experimental designs, and to models and results from another sensory modality.:Bibliographische Beschreibung 3
Acknowledgments 4
CONTENTS 5
Collaborations 7
List of Figures 8
List of Tables 8
1. Introduction 9
1.1. Tristability 10
1.2. Two or more interpretations? 11
1.3. Multistability in different modalities 12
1.3.1. Auditory multistability 12
1.3.2. Haptic multistability 13
1.3.3. Olfactory multistability 13
1.4. multistability with several interpretations 13
1.5. Measuring multistability 14
1.5.1. The optokinetic nystagmus 14
1.5.2. Pupillometry 15
1.5.3. Measuring auditory multistability 15
1.5.4. Crossmodal multistability 16
1.6. Factors governing multistability 16
1.6.1. Manipulations that do not involve the stimulus 16
1.6.2. Manipulation of the stimulus 17
1.6.2.1. Factors affecting the plaid stimulus 17
1.6.2.2. Factors affecting the auditory streaming stimulus 18
1.7. Goals of this thesis 18
1.7.1. Overview of the thesis 18
2. Parameter dependence in visual pattern-component rivalry at onset and
during prolonged viewing 21
2.1. Introduction 21
2.2. Methods 24
2.2.1. Participants 24
2.2.2. Setup 24
2.2.3. Stimuli 25
2.2.4. Procedure 26
2.2.5. Analysis 27
2.2.6. (Generalized) linear mixed-effects models 30
2.3. Results 30
2.3.1. Experiment 1 30
2.3.1.1. Relative number of integrated percepts 31
2.3.1.2. Generalized linear mixed-effects model 32
2.3.1.3. Dominance durations 33
2.3.1.4. Linear mixed-effects models 33
2.3.1.5. Control: Disambiguated trials 33
2.3.1.6. Time course of percept reports at onset 34
2.3.1.7. Eye movements 35
2.3.2. Experiment 2 36
2.3.2.1. Relative number of percepts 36
2.3.2.2. Generalized linear mixed-effects model 37
2.3.2.3. Dominance durations 38
2.3.2.4. Linear mixed-effects model 38
2.3.2.5. Control: Disambiguated trials 40
2.3.2.6. Time course of percept reports at onset 42
2.3.2.7. Eye movements 44
2.4. Discussion 45
2.5. Appendix 49
2.5.1. Appendix A 49
3. Perceptual history 51
3.1. Markov chains 52
3.1.1. Markov chains of order 1 and 2 52
3.2. Testing for Markov chains 55
3.2.1. The method of Naber and colleagues (2010) 56
3.2.1.1. The method 56
3.2.1.2. Advantages and disadvantages of the method 56
3.2.2. Further methods for testing Markov chains 57
3.3. Summary and discussion 58
4. Sequential stopping rules 60
4.1. The COAST rule 61
4.2. The CLAST rule 61
4.3. The variable criteria sequential stopping rule 61
4.4. Discussion 62
4.5. Using the vcSSR when transferring an effect from audition to vision 64
5. Predictability in visual multistability 66
5.1. Pretests 66
5.2. Predictability effects in visual pattern-component rivalry 69
5.2.1. Introduction 69
5.2.2. Methods 71
5.2.2.1. Participants 71
5.2.2.2. Setup 72
5.2.2.3. Stimuli 73
5.2.2.4. Conditions 73
5.2.2.5. Design and procedure 73
5.2.2.6. Analysis 74
5.2.3. Results 75
5.2.3.1. Valid reports 75
5.2.3.2. Verification of reports by eye movements 76
5.2.3.3. Onset latency 76
5.2.3.4. Dominance durations 78
5.2.3.5. Relative dominance of the segregated percept 78
5.2.4. Discussion 78
6. General discussion 83
6.1. Reporting percepts 83
6.1.1. Providing two versus three response options 83
6.1.2. Stimuli with more than three percepts 84
6.1.3. When to pool percepts together and when not 84
6.1.4. Leaving out percepts 87
6.1.5. Measuring (unreported) percepts 88
6.2. Comparing influencing factors on different levels 88
6.3. The use of the vcSSR 90
6.4. Valid reports 90
6.5. Conclusion 93
References 94

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:84646
Date03 May 2023
CreatorsWegner, Thomas
ContributorsEinhäuser-Treyer, Wolfgang, Bendixen, Alexandra, Technische Universität Chemnitz
Source SetsHochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion, doc-type:doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, doc-type:Text
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Relation10.1016/j.visres.2020.12.006, 10.1016/j.visres.2020.12.006

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