Material category of visual objects computed from specular image structure.

ABSTRACT: Recognizing materials and their properties visually is vital for successful interactions with our environment, from avoiding slippery floors to handling fragile objects. Yet there is no simple mapping of retinal image intensities to physical properties. Here, we investigated what image information drives material perception by collecting human psychophysical judgements about complex glossy objects. Variations in specular image structure-produced either by manipulating reflectance properties or visual features directly-caused categorical shifts in material appearance, suggesting that specular reflections provide diagnostic information about a wide range of material classes. Perceived material category appeared to mediate cues for surface gloss, providing evidence against a purely feedforwar

SUBMITTER: Schmid AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10365995 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature