Similarity between target and irrelevant level in global and local processing of hierarchical stimuli

The aim of the present experiment is to analyze the effect of the similarit y between the target and irrelevant level in the processing of global and l ocal features of a hierarchical stimulus. Two levels of similarity, 50% and 75%, were used on the basis of the amount of the shared contour, using cir cles (target), semicircle (similarity of 50%) and partial circle (similarit y of 75%) as a figures, having found local precedence in both similarity co nditions. This finding is opposite to those of previous experiments in whic h global precedence was found with concentric stimuli, but they may be expl ained on the basis of differences in characteristics of stimulus pattern, e xposure duration and type of task.