Visual Discrimination of the 17 Plane Symmetry Groups 英文参考文献.docVIP

Symmetry 2011, 3, 207-219; doi:10.3390/sym3020207 OPEN ACCESS symmetry ISSN 2073-8994 /journal/symmetry Article Visual Discrimination of the 17 Plane Symmetry Groups Klaus Landwehr Johannes Gutenberg-Universit?t Mainz, Allgemeine Experimentelle Psychologie, Wallstra?e 3, D-55122 Mainz, Germany; E-Mail: landweh@uni-mainz.de; Tel.: +49-6131-39-39270; Fax: +49-6131-39-39268 Received: 1 April 2011; in revised form: 25 April 2011 / Accepted: 4 May 2011 / Published: 11 May 2011 Abstract: Within most of the 17 plane symmetry groups, individual symmetry operations act in multiple, nonequivalent ways. This, and the fact that many groups can be realized on the basis of different unit cells and generating regions, poses difficulties for visual discrimination and identification. Because of inherent confounds, only few of the groups can be studied by traditional experimental methodology. The use of an oddity paradigm and specific tiling patterns that camouflage groups in complex textures are recommended as partial remedy to this impasse. In order to prepare readers for an appreciation of the aforementioned issues and to provide a rationale for their investigation, the reporting of experiments and the discussion of methodological problems is preceded by a brief overview of the role which symmetry has played in the visual arts. Keywords: plane symmetry groups; visual perception; experimental paradigms; camouflage; visual art 1. Symmetry in the Visual Arts Symmetry seems ubiquitous in nature as well as in human artifacts [1]. It has also played an important role in the visual arts. Early examples are pottery ornaments, and friezes, from Ancient Egypt or even prehistoric times [2–4]. Although a comprehensive overview is not easily obtained, it appears that the earliest designs were dominated by simple repetitions (translations) and reflections. During antiquity an