Perceptual processes that may create stick figures and balance.

Abstract

A series of experiments looked at the pattern of dot placements created when people individually placed a single dot inside empty outline figures. The superimposed results were found to compare better with the predictions of Blum's grassfire model than with a size-constancy process. The pattern of superimposed dots conformed to the stick figure of the outlined contours. A perceptual model based on spatial harmonic analysis of complex visual scenes is offered as an explanation for the pattern of results.