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G C Cupchik

Publications and source records attributed to G C Cupchik.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Multifractal structure in nonrepresentational art.

Multifractal analysis techniques are applied to patterns in several abstract expressionist artworks, painted by various artists. The analysis is carried out on two distinct types of structures: the physical patterns formed by a specific color ("blobs") and patterns formed by the luminance gradient between adjacent colors ("edges"). It is found that the multifractal analysis method applied to "blobs" cannot distinguish between artists of the same movement, yielding a multifractal spectrum of dimensions between about 1.5 and 1.8. The method can distinguish between different types of images, however, as demonstrated by studying a radically different type of art. The data suggest that the "edge" method can distinguish between artists in the same movement and is proposed to represent a toy model of visual discrimination. A "fractal reconstruction" analysis technique is also applied to the images in order to determine whether or not a specific signature can be extracted which might serve as a type of fingerprint for the movement.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Shared processes in spatial rotation and musical permutation.

An experiment was conducted in which subjects performed a three-dimensional spatial rotation test (24 trials) and a new test involving judgments of musical permutations (64 trials). Two types of musical permutations were used, including retrograde and inverse. In a retrograde permutation, the criterion melody was played backward in the test melody, and in an inverse permutation, an ascending or descending interval in the criterion melody became an opposite in the test melody. Subjects included 32 male and 64 female undergraduates at the University of Toronto. Regression analysis clearly showed that it was easiest to compare short retrograde permutations and that accuracy at discerning retrograde permutations predicted accuracy at judging spatial rotations. The implication is that a higher order ability to discriminate contour underlies both kinds of judgments.

Female↗
PubMed1995

The emotional distinctiveness of odor-evoked memories.

A modified paired-associate learning paradigm was used to test whether odors or verbal odor labels evoked more emotional memories. Subjects were presented with emotionally positive and negative paintings (to-be-remembered items) in association with positive and negative odors and odor labels. Painting recall and associated emotional experience were tested after 48 h. Odor-evoked memories were found to be more emotional than verbally cued memories on a variety of measures. Moreover, if the cue for recall (odor or label) was hedonically congruent with the painting to be remembered, memory for original emotional experiences was enhanced. The findings are discussed within a general cognitive framework and implications for using odors to dissociate the emotional and representational aspects of memory are addressed.

Adult↗