The interactions between visual appearance and conceptual knowledge in the acquisition of perceptual expertise

Abstract

Research on object recognition often uses novel objects to prevent contributions from conceptual knowledge. This dissertation reveals the interactions of visual and conceptual properties in object recognition using novel objects, and the impact of the interactions on object learning and perceptual expertise, in terms of behavior (Chapter 2) and neural activity using fMRI (Chapter 3). The results reveal how shape and conceptual information interact to facilitate perception and determine object representations in the visual system. This research demonstrates the power of manipulating both visual and conceptual factors with artificial objects and novel concepts created out of lists of words. It opens the way for further experimentation and theoretical development with regards to how different types of information interact to determine object percepts and concepts.