Gosselin, F. and Schyns, P.G. (2003) Superstitious perceptions reveal properties of internal representations. Psychological Science, 14(5), pp. 505-509. (doi: 10.1111/1467-9280.03452)
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Abstract
Everyone has seen a human face in a cloud, a pebble, or blots on a wall. Evidence of superstitious perceptions has been documented since classical antiquity, but has received little scientific attention. In the study reported here, we used superstitious perceptions in a new principled method to reveal the properties of unobservable object representations in memory. We stimulated the visual system with unstructured white noise. Observers firmly believed that they perceived the letter S in Experiment 1 and a smile on a face in Experiment 2. Using reverse correlation and computational analyses, we rendered the memory representations underlying these superstitious perceptions.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Schyns, Professor Philippe |
| Authors: | Gosselin, F., and Schyns, P.G. |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience |
| Journal Name: | Psychological Science |
| ISSN: | 0956-7976 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1467-9280 |
| Published Online: | 20 August 2003 |
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