Bilateral Symmetry Detection: Testing a ‘Callosal’ Hypothesis

Abstract

At the end of the 19th century Mach observed that vertical symmetry is more easily perceived than is symmetry at other orientations, and proposed this resulted from bilateral symmetry in the visual system. Numerous studies of symmetry detection have been conducted, but none has been concentrated on Mach's proposal. Recent interpretations of Mach's hypothesis suggest the corpus callosum mediates the vertical-symmetry advantage. In this ‘callosal’ hypothesis it is suggested that the detectability of symmetry should be narrowly tuned around vertical, and that presentation of patterns away from fixation should disrupt the vertical advantage. We found that the vertical advantage was disrupted by presentation of patterns 1.2 deg from fixation, while detection of symmetry at other orientations was not disrupted. At fixation the orientation tuning was at least within ±10° of vertical. The detection of vertical symmetry at fixation was found to be anomalous in two subjects born without a corpus callosum as compared with controls, but relatively normal for presentation off fixation. The three experiments reported are in agreement with some of the predictions derived from the callosal hypothesis. It appears that the callosal hypothesis may account for the relative advantage of vertical symmetry at fixation, but other mechanisms must operate to detect symmetry at other orientations and positions.