Final answer:
People can indeed learn new features and integrate distinct qualities into a coherent perceptual experience, processing them as a single unitary feature. This encompasses language's influence on perception and the brain's flexibility in integrating new information, supported by Gestalt theory's perceptual hypotheses and synaptic plasticity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evidence for Feature Detection
The concept of feature detection revolves around our ability to identify and process specific elements of stimuli, such as shapes or sounds, and how these elements are recognized and categorized in the brain. Studies suggest that people can indeed learn new features over time and even amalgamate distinct features into a cohesive perceptual experience, processing them as a single unitary feature. The Johnson and Mervis (1998) study on expertise and feature recruitment highlights the role that intuitive theories play in shaping perception. People not only learn to distinguish between new features but also merge them into more complex schemas as they become more familiar with them.
Moreover, the research by Kay and Kempton (1984) illustrates that linguistic categories can influence our perception, such as how we distinguish colors based on the language we speak. This serves as an example of how the brain is adaptable and can process information in a flexible manner, based on both innate and learned categories.
Gestalt theory adds another dimension to our understanding of feature detection. It proposes that our perceptions are not always a straightforward reflection of the physical world but are instead shaped by a variety of factors, such as past experiences and expectations, which contribute to our perceptual set. This notion is further supported by the evidence that verbal priming can influence how we interpret ambiguous figures, as demonstrated in the study by Goolkasian and Woodbury (2010).
The ability to integrate new features into existing patterns of perception aligns with the principles of synaptic plasticity. Nabavi et al. (2014) provided evidence that the brain could create an association between two previously unrelated stimuli, indicating that not only can humans learn new features, but they can also process and respond to them in an integrated manner.