Diagnostic colors mediate scene recognition

In this research, we aim to ground scene recognition on information other t han the identity of component objects. Specifically we seek to understand t he structure of color cues that allows the express recognition of scene gis ts. Using the L*a*b* color space we examined the conditions under which chr omatic cues concur with brightness to allow a viewer to recognize scenes at a glance. Using different methods, Experiments 1 and 2 tested the hypothes is that colors do contribute when they are diagnostic (i.e., predictive) of a scene category. Experiment 3 examined the structure of colored cues at d ifferent spatial scales that are responsible for the effects of color diagn osticity reported in Experiments 1 and 2. Together, the results suggest tha t colored blobs at a coarse spatial scale concur with luminance cues to for m the relevant spatial layout that mediates express scene recognition. (C) 2000 Academic Press.