Temporal integration of visual mirror symmetry: Psychophysics, modelling and haemodynamics

Mirror symmetry is visual feature of high biological importance in our complex, dynamic visual world. This thesis explores the intersection of spatial and temporal features of the perceptual mechanisms using psychophysical and optical neuroimaging methods. Using a temporal integration paradigm, the research presented here explores variations in luminance polarity, orientation, and higher-order configural features to consider sensitivity to symmetry and the duration over which symmetry cues persevere. Existing spatial filtering models of symmetry were unable to account for our psychophysical findings, highlighting the need for more flexible, comprehensive models of symmetry perception which can account for spatial and temporal features.