Similarity and features of natural textures

In 3 experiments the type of model that is best for conceptualizing the att entive similarity of natural textures was investigated. Different groups of participants placed pictures into groups however they wished, described th e resulting clusters and multidimensional scaling dimensions, identified th e objects or surfaces depicted in the pictures, and ranked the pictures alo ng several hypothesized attribute-based dimensions. Results indicate that s imilarity is context dependent, that natural textures seem to be organized according to family resemblances, and that a dimensional model is inappropr iate. These outcomes suggest that models of preattentive segregation and at tentive cognition may be incommensurable.