Interactions Between Symmetry and Elongation in Determining Reference Frames for Object Perception

Many theories of object recognition posit that objects are encoded with respect to a perceptual frame of reference. Such theories assume that factors such as symmetry and elongation are critical for the assignment of an object's primary axis, and consequently for the extraction of an object's reference frame. The present experiments directly examined the relative roles played by symmetry and elongation in the determination of an object's primary axis, and the extent to which symmetry and elongation interact with one another. We found that observers use both symmetry and elongation in extracting an object's primary axis, that the extent to which each cue dominates depends on its relative salience, and that symmetry and elongation are processed interactively, rather than in encapsulated modules.