A Mental Space Similarity Group Model of Shape Constancy

✍ Scribed by Kathleen C. Chen; Mou-ta Chen

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 224 KB
• Volume: 43
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-2496
• DOI: 10.1006/jmps.1998.1230

✦ Synopsis

A group model of mental transformations based on the geometric model of P. B. Yale (1968, Geometry and symmetry, Holden Day, San Francisco) was constructed for form recognition. The model consisted of nine characteristic subgroups of the similarity group in Euclidean space. With these subgroups, six series were formed, representing six visual paths for form recognition. Each series involved five characteristic subgroups. Six subframes were associated with nine characteristic subgroups in the model. These subframes were shape (angle measure), the sense, size (volume), verticality, uprightness, and position. The model was validated by an experiment, using reaction time as the behavior index. Since shape is the common invariant property of all subgroups of the similarity group, angle measure was not included in ordering of subframes. The findings show that the preservation of uprightness of a form provides the best condition for form recognition, followed by the preservation of sense and verticality of a form. While the effect of position is not strong, size has the weakest influence on space form recognition.