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Abstract
This article argues that phenomenological description and neurophysiological correlation
complement each other in perception research. Whilst phenomena constitute the material,
neuronal mechanisms are indispensable for their explanation. Numerous examples of
neurophysiological correlates show that the correlation of phenomenology and neurophysiology
is fruitful. Phenomena for which neuronal mechanism have been found include: (in area
V1) filling-in of real and artificial scotomata, contour integration, figure-ground
segregation by orientation contrast, amodal completion, and motion transparency; (in
V2) modal completion, border ownership, surface transparency, and cyclopean perception;
(in V3) alignment in dotted contours, and filling-in with dynamic texture; (in V4)
colour constancy; (in MT) shape by accretion/deletion, grouping by coherent motion,
apparent motion in motion quartets, motion in apertures, and biological motion. Results
suggest that in monkey visual cortex, occlusion cues, including stereo depth, are
predominantly processed in lower areas, whereas mechanisms for grouping and motion
are primarily represented in higher areas. More correlations are likely to emerge
as neuroscientists strive for a better understanding of visual perception. The paper
concludes with a review of major achievements in visual neuroscience pertinent to
the study of the phenomena under consideration.