Evidence for the importance of shape in guiding visual search.

What is it about?

This research was a novel application of the Texture Tiling model--a computational model of peripheral vision that suggests that human peripheral vision relies on summary statistics. We found that the summary statistics used by the model were similar enough to visual information in the periphery that the model predicted visual search guidance, but only when the model also included global shape features.

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Why is it important?

This work (1) demonstrated the importance of shape features in guiding visual search, (2) demonstrated the need for future modifications to models of the visual periphery—showing that including shape features is important in these modeling efforts, and (3) suggests that identifying the features used in peripheral vision may soon be within reach, since the model (with shape features included) was able to accurately predict performance.