Abstract
STIMULUS variables influencing the perception of the third dimension and rate of perceived reversals1–7 of the Necker cube (Fig. 1a–c) and the Mach book (Fig. 1d) have been examined, and although the Necker cube has been viewed as an ambiguous figure whose configuration and accompanying instructions usually limit the number of percepts to two4, few studies have asked what the observer perceives the figure to be8,9. We show here that the perceptual structure of the Necker cube is far more ambiguous than previously suggested.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hochberg, J., and Brooks, V., Amer. J. Psychol., 73, 337 (1970).
Ammons, C. H., and Ammons, R. B., Proc. Montana Acad. Sci., 23, 287 (1963).
Olson, R., and Orbach, J., Percept. Mot. Skills, 22, 623 (1966).
Orbach, J., Ehrlich, D., and Heath, H. A., Percept. Mot. Skills, 17, 439 (1963).
Spitz, H. H., and Lipman, R. S., Percept. Mot. Skills, 15, 611 (1962).
Wieland, Betty A., and Mefferd, R. B., jun., Percept. Mot. Skills, 23, 823 (1966).
Wieland, B. A., and Mefferd, R. B., jun., Percept. Mot. Skills, 24, 923 (1967).
Adams, P., and Haire, M., Amer. J. Psychol., 71, 548 (1958).
Gregory, R. L., The Intelligent Eye (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1970).
Haronian, F., and Sugerman, A. A., Percept. Mot. Skills, 22, 543 (1966).
Jones, M. B., J. Abnorm. Soc. Psychol., 50, 125 (1955).
Eysenck, H. J., Holland, H., and Trouton, D. S., J. Ment. Sci., 103, 656 (1957).
Rakeath, M., The Open and Closed Mind (Basic Books, New York, 1960).
Boring, E. G., Sensation and Perception in the History of Psychology (Appleton Century Crofts, New York, 1942).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MASON, J., KASZOR, P. & BOURASSA, C. Perceptual Structure of the Necker Cube. Nature 244, 54–56 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/244054a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/244054a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
