Citation

Weil RS, Rees G. Brain Res. Rev. 2011; 67(1-2): 40-55.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.brainresrev.2010.10.004

PMID

21059374

PMCID

PMC3119792

Abstract

Perceptual filling-in occurs when structures of the visual system interpolate information across regions of visual space where that information is physically absent. It is a ubiquitous and heterogeneous phenomenon, which takes place in different forms almost every time we view the world around us, such as when objects are occluded by other objects or when they fall behind the blind spot. Yet, to date, there is no clear framework for relating these various forms of perceptual filling-in. Similarly, whether these and other forms of filling-in share common mechanisms is not yet known. Here we present a new taxonomy to categorise the different forms of perceptual filling-in. We then examine experimental evidence for the processes involved in each type of perceptual filling-in. Finally, we use established theories of general surface perception to show how contextualising filling-in using this framework broadens our understanding of the possible shared mechanisms underlying perceptual filling-in. In particular we consider the importance of the presence of boundaries in determining the phenomenal experience of perceptual filling-in.

Language: en