Natural scene statistics mediate the perception of image complexity

Abstract

Humans are sensitive to complexity and regularity in patterns. The subjective perception of pattern complexity is correlated to algorithmic (Kolmogorov-Chaitin) complexity as defined in computer science, but also to the frequency of naturally occurring patterns. However, the possible mediational role of natural frequencies in the perception of algorithmic complexity remains unclear. Here we reanalyze Hsu et al. (2010) through a mediational analysis, and complement their results in a new experiment. We conclude that human perception of complexity seems partly shaped by natural scenes statistics, thereby establishing a link between the perception of complexity and the effect of natural scene statistics.

References in corpus (3)

• Algorithmic Complexity for Short Binary Strings Applied to Psychology: A Primer
• Correspondence and Independence of Numerical Evaluations of Algorithmic Information Measures
• Two-Dimensional Kolmogorov Complexity and Validation of the Coding Theorem Method by Compressibility

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Approximations of Algorithmic and Structural Complexity Validate Cognitive-behavioural Experimental Results
• Algorithmic complexity for psychology: A user-friendly implementation of the coding theorem method
• Slime mould: the fundamental mechanisms of cognition
• Algorithmic Information Dynamics of Persistent Patterns and Colliding Particles in the Game of Life
• Paths to Unconventional Computing: Causality in Complexity