Symmetry, gestalt and information theory

Two kinds of patterns were made up out of crosses. The first kind was symmetrical and the second contained a sub-pattern repeated in the same orientation. Subjects were requested to reproduce the stimuli after viewing them for 2 sec. It was found that there was no difference between the two kinds of stimuli when symmetry about the horizontal axis was involved but that when symmetry about the vertical axis occurred the symmetrical stimuli were reproduced more accurately than the repeated stimuli. Introduction of contrasting colours on the two portions of each pattern decreased the frequency of correct responses, whilst stressing the grid line subdividing the stimuli into two portions containing the same information had no significant effect.