Patterns of interrelation between perception and understanding of images and texts with different degree of blur

Abstract

The efficiency of information processing depends on a holistic and integrated process of understanding. Eye tracking helps us to study the peculiarities of the understanding of visually perceived stimuli. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize the relationship between perception and understanding, on the example of images and texts with different degrees of blurring (visual complexity). The work involved 25 participants, ages 19 to 25 years. Methods include poll, recording eye movements (eye tracking), wavelet filtering of text and images, and content analysis. Stimuli were consistently presented on the screen included text stimuli (from 7 texts), episodes from Russian fairy tales, and images (from 8 comics total), each consisting of eight pictures, united by one complete plot. Visual stimuli were presented in order from the clearest to the most blurred image. The results of the study showed that the participants made more gaze fixations on plot-relevant details and characters. They reveal key details of images for a general understanding of the content. The willful regulation of cognitive processes allows distinguishing the main characters and keywords to recreate or anticipate the meaning of visually perceived information constructs while reading texts or pictures with a high degree of blur.