On the Role of Contrast Polarity: In Response to van der Helm’s Comments

oleh: Baingio Pinna, Livio Conti

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-01-01

Deskripsi

In this work, we discussed and counter-commented van der Helm&#8217;s comments on our previous paper (Pinna and Conti, <i>Brain Sci.</i>, <b>2019</b>, <i>9</i>, 149), where we demonstrated unique and relevant visual properties imparted by contrast polarity in eliciting amodal completion. The main question we addressed was: &#8220;What is the role of shape formation and perceptual organization in inducing amodal completion?&#8221; To answer this question, novel stimuli were studied through Gestalt experimental phenomenology. The results demonstrated the domination of the contrast polarity against good continuation, T-junctions, and regularity. Moreover, the limiting conditions explored revealed a new kind of junction next to the T- and Y-junctions, respectively responsible for amodal completion and tessellation. We called them I-junctions. The results were theoretically discussed in relation to the previous approaches and in the light of the phenomenal salience imparted by contrast polarity. In counter-commenting van der Helm&#8217;s comments we went into detail of his critiques and rejected all of them point-by-point. We proceeded by summarizing hypotheses and discussion of the previous work, then commenting on each critique through old and new phenomena and clarifying the meaning of our previous conclusions.