Overlapping Partial Configurations in Object Memory: An Alternative Solution to Classic Problems in Perception and Recognition

This chapter summarizes research showing that object memories can exert an influence on figure assignment. It supposes that these object-memory effects arise from matches between partial configurations in object memory and portions of borders rather than whole continuous borders (or whole regions). The proposed partial configurations code boundary features and their spatial relationships; hence they code configural information conjunctively. It supposes that known objects are represented by a number of overlapping partial configurations within posterior regions of the ventral pathway. It also presents evidence suggesting that different portions of the continuous border of a region of uniform texture, color, and luminance can be matched to different object memories before figure assignment is completed.