Effects of internal texture on cognitive preferences concerning rotational symmetry

This paper explores the effects of the internal texture of an image on cognitive preferences relative to symmetry detection in humans. We devised an experiment on human subjects, based on identification of the main symmetry in a geometrical shape while varying its internal texture, whose results have been compared with the analysis of a fuzzy model of symmetry search incorporating elements form human experience. Results are in agreement with the gestalt model: rotational symmetry detection is also affected by factors perceived as less significative, such as the stimulus' internal texture, and this preference can easily be included in an automatic detection algorithm.