Two visual systems and two theories of perception: An attempt to reconcile the constructivist and ecological approaches.

Full Abstract

The two contrasting theoretical approaches to visual perception, the constructivist and the ecological, are briefly presented and illustrated through their analyses of space and size perception. Earlier calls for their reconciliation and unification are reviewed. Neurophysiological, neuropsychological, and psychophysical evidence for the existence of two quite distinct visual systems, the ventral and the dorsal, is presented. These two perceptual systems differ in their functions; the ventral system's central function is that of identification, while the dorsal system is mainly engaged in the visual control of motor behavior. The strong parallels between the ecological approach and the functioning of the dorsal system, and between the constructivist approach and the functioning of the ventral system are noted. It is also shown that the experimental paradigms used by the proponents of these two approaches match the functions of the respective visual systems. A dual-process approach to visual perception emerges from this analysis, with the ecological-dorsal process transpiring mainly without conscious awareness, while the constructivist-ventral process is normally conscious. Some implications of this dual-process approach to visual-perceptual phenomena are presented, with emphasis on space perception.

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Author information

Author/s: Norman, Joel (J);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel. jnorman(-atsign-)research.haifa.ac.il

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Behavioral and brain sciences (Behav Brain Sci), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Feb; vol 25 (issue 1) : pp 73-96; discussion 96-144

Dates: Created 2003/03/10; Completed 2003/07/07; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12625088, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Awareness - physiology
Brain - physiology
Brain Mapping
Haplorhini
Humans
Orientation - physiology

Psychological Theory
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Psychophysics
Size Perception - physiology
Social Environment
Space Perception - physiology
Visual Pathways - physiology

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