In the ViSyRelPer project, substantial progress has been made toward understanding how the human visual system encodes abstract relations between objects in a scene — a foundational cognitive ability that underpins reasoning, communication, and social understanding.
The project began by developing a novel set of visual stimuli that depict relations such as containment, support, and interaction between objects or agents. Unlike earlier studies using language or static images, ViSyRelPer employs short, movie-like sequences to explore whether the brain can automatically and rapidly detect relational patterns, independently of the specific objects involved.
To test this, I designed a series of EEG experiments using the Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation (FPVS) technique — an innovative method that tracks the brain’s automatic response to visual categories. Stimuli were presented in rapid sequences where object relations were either held constant or systematically varied. This allowed us to measure how the brain distinguishes abstract relations based solely on visual input, and how quickly these distinctions emerge.
EEG data collection for these experiments is complete. Results suggest that the brain shows selective and robust responses to visual relations, with distinct neural signatures emerging in early visual and parietal regions — supporting the idea that relational encoding occurs early in the perceptual process, not only at later stages involving reasoning or language.
A second set of experiments investigated the generalization of relational perception: for example, whether the brain treats “a cat under a table” and “a book under a lamp” as instances of the same relation. Data collection is finalized, and the results indicate that, to a certain extent, the brain can generalize across visually dissimilar configurations — suggesting an object-independent coding of relations.
In a follow-up EEG study, we tested whether the response to relations like “containment” and “support” is fully abstract. Results showed that the brain’s response is not entirely independent of object type; for example, the nature of the container or support object influences the response, pointing to limits in abstraction.
To extend these findings, I developed a new set of abstract stimuli that rely on non-meaningful shapes, allowing us to test relational perception beyond familiar objects.
In parallel, the project has laid the foundation for a future work package exploring whether relational perception differs in individuals with autism spectrum conditions, with preparatory work underway.
Overall, ViSyRelPer has delivered key scientific outputs: a novel experimental paradigm, new insights into how and where the brain encodes relational information, and the groundwork for translational applications in neurodevelopmental research. These findings contribute to theoretical models of visual cognition and may ultimately inform clinical approaches to diagnosing or supporting individuals with atypical perceptual or cognitive profiles.
