Quaddles: A multidimensional 3D object set with parametrically-controlled and customizable features

Abstract

Many studies of vision and cognition require novel three-dimensional object sets defined by a parametric feature space. Creating such sets and verifying that they are suitable for a given task, however, can be extremely time-consuming and effortful. Here we present a new set of multidimensional objects, Quaddles, designed for a study of feature-based learning and attention, but adaptable for many research purposes. Quaddles have features that are all equally-visible from any angle around the vertical axis, and which all have similar response biases on a feature detection task, thus removing one potential source of bias in object selection. They are available as two-dimensional images, rotating videos, and FBX object files suitable for use with any modern video game engine. We also provide examples and tutorials for modifying Quaddles or creating completely new object sets from scratch, hopefully greatly speeding up the development time of future novel object studies.\n\nAuthors noteThis work was supported by grant MOP 102482 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (TW) and by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Brain in Action CREATE-IRTG program (MRW, TW). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of this manuscript. Authors would like to thank Hongying Wang for technical support, and Isabel Gauthier for comments on a draft version of the manuscript.\n\nThe study described herein was approved by the York University Office of Research Ethics (Certificate # 2016-214).\n\nA draft version of this manuscript is available online at BioR{chi}iv: