Dynamics of perceptual grouping: Similarities in the organization of visual and auditory groups

In vision, the Gestalt principles of perceptual organization are generally well understood and remain a subject of detailed analysis. However, the pos sibility for a unified theory of grouping across visual and auditory modali ties remains largely unexplored. Here we present examples of auditory and v isual Gestalt grouping, which share important organizational properties. In particular, similarities are revealed between grouping processes in appare nt motion, auditory streaming, and static 2-D displays. Given the substanti al difference in the context, within which the phenomena in question occur (auditory vs. visual, static vs. dynamic), these similarities suggest that the dynamics of perceptual organization could be associated with a common ( possibly central) mechanism. If the relevance of supramodal invariants of g rouping is granted, the question arises as to whether they can be studied e mpirically. We propose that a "force-field" theory, based on a differential -geometric interpretation of perceptual space, could provide a suitable sta rting point for a systematic exploration of the subjective properties of ce rtain classes of auditory and visual grouping phenomena.