>Here we tested whether skeletal structures provide an important source of information for object recognition when compared with other models of vision. Our results showed that a model of skeletal similarity was most predictive of human object judgments when contrasted with models based on image-statistics or neural networks, as well as another model of structure based on coarse spatial relations. Moreover, we found that skeletal structures were a privileged source of information when compared to other properties thought to be important for shape perception, such as object contours and component parts. Thus, our results suggest that not only does the visual system show sensitivity to the skeletal structure of objects32,36,37, but also that perception and comparison of object skeletons may be crucial for successful object recognition.
>Here we tested whether skeletal structures provide an important source of information for object recognition when compared with other models of vision. Our results showed that a model of skeletal similarity was most predictive of human object judgments when contrasted with models based on image-statistics or neural networks, as well as another model of structure based on coarse spatial relations. Moreover, we found that skeletal structures were a privileged source of information when compared to other properties thought to be important for shape perception, such as object contours and component parts. Thus, our results suggest that not only does the visual system show sensitivity to the skeletal structure of objects32,36,37, but also that perception and comparison of object skeletons may be crucial for successful object recognition.