Necker Cube is a three-dimensional figure consisting of a cube with its vertices connected by straight lines. It was first described by Swiss crystallographer Louis Necker in 1832. Necker Cube has been used extensively in cognitive psychology research as a tool to investigate the way people perceive and interpret visual information.
Necker Cube is an ambiguous figure, meaning that it can be seen in two different ways. The two interpretations of the figure can be distinguished by the direction of the top plane relative to the bottom plane. The first interpretation of the figure is that the top plane is facing away from the observer, while the second interpretation is that the top plane is facing towards the observer. This ambiguity allows researchers to investigate how people interpret visual information.
One of the most significant uses of Necker Cube in cognitive psychology research is to study the phenomenon of perceptual switching. Perceptual switching occurs when a person experiences a change in their interpretation of an ambiguous figure. Research has shown that people tend to switch between the two interpretations of the Necker Cube at a rate of approximately once every 10 seconds (Kleffner, 1992).
Research has also used Necker Cube to investigate the effects of cognitive strategies on perceptual switching. Studies have found that people who use strategies such as counting or verbalizing the two interpretations of the figure are more likely to maintain a consistent interpretation than those who do not use these strategies (Shimizu & Tanaka, 2001).
Necker Cube has also been used to investigate the effects of cultural differences on perception. Studies have found that people from different cultural backgrounds tend to interpret the figure differently (Kida, 2006).
Overall, Necker Cube has been an important tool in cognitive psychology research for over a century. Its ambiguity and malleability make it an invaluable tool for investigating the way people perceive and interpret visual information.
References
Kida, T. (2006). Cultural differences in interpretation of the Necker cube: A comparison between Japanese and American students. Perception, 35, 1431–1441.
Kleffner, D. A. (1992). Perceptual switching in the Necker cube: Effects of visual context and instructions. Cognitive Psychology, 24, 180–211.
Shimizu, K., & Tanaka, H. (2001). Cognitive strategies and perceptual consistency in the Necker cube: A comparison of Japanese and American subjects. Perception, 30, 811–818.