Stimuli composed of two overlapped faces, one rotated 45 degrees clockwise
and the other 45 degrees counterclockwise. produce perceptual rivalry where
by both faces cannot be simultaneously perceived. We obtained subjective an
d quantitative measures of this rivalry effect and examined if it persists
with inverted stimuli. Our results show that upright stimuli are multistabl
e, with alternations occurring From one face to the other within 2 s. Inver
ted stimuli were instead perceived as ambiguous in half of the trials, indi
cating weaker perceptual rivalry in that condition. We suggest that overlap
ped faces produce perceptual rivalry because each face is readily interpret
ed into a Gestalt, an effect that in turn is dependent upon orientation.