Viewpoint-dependent versus -independent 3-D object perception: A direct comparison

Although changing the viewpoint from which objects are perceived drasticall y alters the image they project on the retina, the visual system is general ly able to recognize them. To explain this capacity, two basic accounts hav e been proposed: a viewpoint-independent and a viewpoint-dependent account. Both classes of theories have provided considerable evidence in their favo r. In line with recent developments, however, we argue that a single mechan ism does not suffice to explain the available experimental evidence. We rep ort an experiment that shows that in a single experimental paradigm with hi ghly similar stimuli, both viewpoint-dependent and viewpoint-independent re sults can be obtained. In addition, we review an fMRI-study in which we inv estigated the neurofunctional correlates underlying these behavioral patter ns. Taken together, these findings corroborate the claim that there are mul tiple routes to achieve object recognition.