Anisotropy and Visual Structures

Modern studies of perception and cognitive sciences distinguish between bottom-up and top-dawn cue processing. In the first one the stimuli drive the workings of visual awareness, whereas in the second one cognitive operations drive visual awareness. As to this distinction, the universal perception factors may all be considered as belonging to the bottom-up cue processing, before interpretation as top-down processing relying on cumulated information and so, at least partly, possibly relying on cultural factors. Mere knowing a cube from a sphere is a clear case of bottom-up cue processing free from cultural determinants, but interpreting a cube as a box is a clear case of top-down processing, that supposes a culture in which box are known. Arnheim seems to consider the dynamics of visual structures as based on universal perception factors. But a main factor in grasping the dynamics of a visual structure is the anisotropy of physical space, yet it seems to cover both mentioned kinds of cue processing. The aim of this paper is to briefly consider universal and cultural factors related to anisotropy in perceiving the dynamic visual structures.