Creating a Framework for Experimentally Testing Early Visual Processing: A Response to Nurmoja, et al. (2012) on Trait Perception from Pixelized Faces

Abstract

Nurmoja, Eamets, Härma, and Bachmann (2012) revealed that strongly pixelated pictures of faces still provide relevant cues for reliably assessing the apparent (i.e., subjectively perceived) traits of the portrayed. The present article responds to the paper by developing the outline of a framework for future research to reveal certain steps in processing complex visual stimuli. This framework combines the approach of degradation of the stimuli with the so-called microgenetic approach of percepts based on presentation time limitations. The proposed combination of a particular kind of stimulus manipulation and a specific experimental procedure allows testing targeted assumptions concerning visual processing, not only in the domain of face perception, but in all domains involving complex visual stimuli, for example, art perception.