The article presents icons visual perception research and their impact on recipients. The focus was on the analysis of the way icons were perceived by two groups of people group: lay people and clergy. Variables such as major of study and the knowledge about iconography were taken into account. Eye tracking was used to study differences in visual attention during exposure of icons on a screen. Digital versions of sixteen icons with various themes, schools and styles were downloaded from the public domain. In order to avoid subjectivity in the assessments, next to the famous ones, unknown icons were presented, but with similar visual features. Statistical techniques were used to analyze the temporal characteristics of visual perception. The results indicate significant differences in the way icons are perceived and interpreted between the groups, which suggests the influence of theological education on the cognitive-perceptual style. The conclusions may open new perspectives for further research on visual perception and wide interdisciplinary discussions on the role of an iconography in culture and art.
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