The influence of statistical regularity on perception

A traditional serial model of visual awareness begins with sensory input undergoing rudimentary processing in the peripheral nervous system, then traveling to the central nervous system’s subcortical structures and progressing through the visual cortex for progressively more complex forms of processing, and, only then, makes contact with memory systems. Recent models of visual awareness challenge both the sequence and linearity of this traditional model. In three sets of experiments I advocate for a recursive model whereby perception does not terminate in a memory representation but instead is dependent on a form of memory representation upfront, such that previously existing representations play an active role in shaping ongoing perception. I argue that experience builds a representation of statistical regularity of the environment into the brain and that the brain takes advantage of these learned representations when attempting to make sense of incoming stimuli. Experiment 1 replicates and expands upon previous research showing that statistically regular items are better perceived. Experiment 2 describes the effect of statistical regularity on time perception, whereby statistically regular items are perceived as lasting longer in duration than statistically irregular items. Finally, Experiment 3 asks whether processing of statistical regularity requires attention and provides evidence that the brain makes implicit distinctions based on statistical regularity even when attention is directed elsewhere.U of I OnlyAuthor requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD syste