Ryosuke NIIMI, Ph.D.

• Niimi is the family name.
• Appears as Ryosuke Niimi in bibliographies, while Niimi Ryosuke is the normal order of Japanese name.
• Pronouce like "knee-me reorce-K".
• Kanji: 新美 亮輔
• Hiragana: にいみ りょうすけ
• Romanization by ISO 3602: Nîmi Ryôsuke.

Associate Professor
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Niigata University
8050 Ikarashi-2-no-cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata, 950-2181 JAPAN

Contact:

Researchmap    ORCID: 0000-0003-1916-9853    ResearcherID: F-1535-2014

Research Interests

As a scientist specializing in experimental and cognitive psychology, I study the cognitive aspects of the human mind and behavior—how people feel, think, and behave. My main research topics include visual perception, attention, object recognition, scene perception, face perception, visual preference, attractiveness, and illusions. Also interested in animations and probability judgments about minorities.

Education

• 2003, B.A., Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, The University of Tokyo
• 2005, M.A. in Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo
• 2008, Ph.D. in Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo

Doctoral Thesis

• Niimi, R. (2008). An experimental study on the visual perception of orientation of familiar objects. Unpublished doctoral thesis, The University of Tokyo, Japan. (in Japanese)
  Abstract  PDF (11MB)

Professional Experience

• 2005 Apr - 2008 Mar, JSPS Research Fellow (DC)
• 2008 Apr - 2009 Mar, Research Scientist, RIKEN Brain Science Institute (Lab. for Integrative Neural Systems)
• 2009 Apr - 2011 Mar, JSPS Research Fellow (PD), Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
• 2009 Apr - 2011 Mar, Visiting Scientist, RIKEN Brain Science Institute (Lab. for Integrative Neural Systems)
• 2010 Apr - 2013 Mar, Part-Time Lecturer (Cognitive Psychology), Musashino University
• 2011 Apr - 2016 Mar, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, The University of Tokyo
• 2012 Apr - 2016 Mar, Part-Time Lecturer (Introduction to Psychology), Tokyo University of the Arts
• 2015 Apr - 2016 Mar, Part-Time Lecturer (Seminar on Writing English Paper), Rikkyo University
• 2016 Apr - present, Associate Professor, Niigata University

Publications

Please email for reprint request.

Books

(in Japanese)

• Niimi, R. (2022). 3D object recognition. In Vision Society of Japan (Ed.), Illustrated encycropedia of vision (pp. 150-153). Tokyo: Asakura Shoten.
• Niimi, R. (2019). Chapters I-9, 10, 11 in K. Miura & J. Kawahara (Eds.), Psychology of beauty and attractiveness (pp. 18-23). Kyoto: Minerva Shobo.
• Niimi, R. (2017). Gist. In Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence (Ed.), Encyclopedia of artificial intelligence (p. 137). Tokyo: Kyoritsu-shuppan.
• Niimi, R., Ueda, S., & Yokosawa, K. (2016). Object perception. Tokyo: Keisho-shobo.

Peer-Reviewed Papers

(in English)

• Niimi, R. (2025). Pupillary responses reflect image memorability. Psychophysiology, 6(2), e70007, doi: 10.1111/psyp.70007
  View Article  Preprint  Open Data  Google Scholar  PubMed
• Niimi, R. (2024). Probability of minority inclusion is underestimated. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 36(4), 502-522, doi: 10.1080/20445911.2024.2347399
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• Niimi, R., Saiki, T., & Yokosawa, K. (2023). Auditory scene context facilitates visual recognition of objects in consistent visual scenes. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 85, 1267-1275, doi: 10.3758/s13414-023-02699-0
  View Article  Open Data  Google Scholar  PubMed
• Niimi, R. (2023). The contributions of surface features and contour shapes to object slant perception. i-Perception, 14(2), 1–18, doi: 10.1177/20416695231160402
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• Niimi, R. & Goto, M. (2023). Good conduct makes your face attractive: The effect of personality perception on facial attractiveness judgments. Plos One, 18(2), e0281758, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281758
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• Niimi, R. (2020). Interacting hands draw attention during scene observation. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 82, 1088-1098, doi: 10.3758/s13414-019-01881-7
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• Niimi, R., Shimada, H., & Yokosawa, K. (2017). Inhibition of return decays rapidly when familiar objects are used. Japanese Psychological Research, 59(2), 167-177, doi: 10.1111/jpr.12149  (Special issue: Search: a new perspective to understand cognitive dynamics)
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• Nonose, K., Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2016). On the three-quarter view advantage of familiar object recognition. Psychological Research, 80(6), 1030-1048, doi: 10.1007/s00426-015-0702-9
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• Sastyin, G., Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2015). Does object view influence the scene consistency effect? Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 77(3), 856-866, doi: 10.3758/s13414-014-0817-x
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• Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2014). Do we know others' visual liking? i-Perception, 5(7), 572-584, doi: 10.1068/i0661
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• Yamashita, W., Niimi, R., Kanazawa, S., Yamaguchi, M. K., & Yokosawa, K. (2014). Three-quarter view preference for three-dimensional objects in 8-month-old infants. Journal of Vision, 14(4), 5, doi: 10.1167/14.4.5
  View Article  Google Scholar  PubMed
• Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2013). Contextual effects of scene on the visual perception of object orientation in depth. Plos One, 8(12), e84371, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084371
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• Kohara, I., & Niimi, R. (2013). The shot length styles of Miyazaki, Oshii, and Hosoda: A quantitative analysis. Animation: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 8(2), 163-184, doi: 10.1177/1746847713487472
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• Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2012). Consistency of likeability of objects across views and time. Perception, 41(6), 673-686, doi: 10.1068/p7240
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• Saneyoshi, A., Niimi, R., Suetsugu, T., Kaminaga, T., & Yokosawa, K. (2011). Iconic memory and parietofrontal network: fMRI study using temporal integration. Neuroreport, 22(11), 515-519, doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e328348aa0c
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• Niimi, R., Saneyoshi, A., Abe, R., Kaminaga, T., & Yokosawa, K. (2011). Parietal and frontal object areas underlie perception of object orientation in depth. Neuroscience Letters, 496(1), 35-39, doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2011.03.081
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• Takahashi, K., Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2010). Illusory motion induced by blurred red-blue edges. Perception, 39(12), 1678-1680, doi: 10.1068/p6811
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• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2009). Viewpoint dependence in the recognition of non-elongated familiar objects: Testing the effects of symmetry, front-back axis, and familiarity. Perception, 38(4), 533-551, doi: 10.1068/p6161
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• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2009). Three-quarter views are subjectively good because object orientation is uncertain. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 16(2), 289-294, doi: 10.3758/PBR.16.2.289
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• Niimi, R., Watanabe, K., & Yokosawa, K. (2008). The dynamic-stimulus advantage of visual symmetry perception. Psychological Research, 72(5), 567-579, doi: 10.1007/s00426-008-0133-y
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• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K, (2008). Determining the orientation of depth-rotated familiar objects. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 15(1), 208-214, doi: 10.3758/PBR.15.1.208
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• Niimi, R., Yokosawa, K., & Watanabe, K. (2006). Attentional set for axis of symmetry in symmetry-defined visual search. Perception & Psychophysics, 68(7), 1153-1162, doi: 10.3758/BF03193717
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• Niimi, R., Watanabe, K., & Yokosawa, K. (2005). The role of visible persistence for perception of visual bilateral symmetry. Japanese Psychological Research, 47(4), 262-270, doi: 10.1111/j.1468-5884.2005.00295.x
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(in Japanese)

• Niimi, R. & Yamada, S. (2020). Effect of facial attractiveness on clothing attractiveness ratings by gender. Japanese Journal of Psychology, 91(2), 94-104, doi: 10.4992/jjpsy.91.19004
  View Article (English abstract and figures available)
• Niimi, R. (2016). Kôkûsinribu: The psychology department of the Aeronautical Research Institute, Tokyo Imperial University. History of Psychology and Psychology Studies, 16/17, 1-23.
• Saneyoshi, A., Niimi, R., Suetsugu, T., Kaminaga, T., & Yokosawa, K. (2009). Japanese Journal of Psychonomic Science, 28, 23-34.
• Niimi, R. & Yokosawa, K. (2007). Japanese Psychological Review, 50, 119-134.

Proceedings and Technical Reports

(in English)

• Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2012). How well do we know others' liking? Japanese Journal of Psychonomic Science, 31, 77-78. (Summary of Awarded Presentation)
• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2006). The role of visual symmetry in determining depth orientation of familiar objects. Japanese Journal of Psychonomic Science, 25, 105-106. (Summary of Awarded Presentation)

(in Japanese)

• Niimi, R. (2023). Technical Report of IEICE, HIP2023-67, 35-38.
• Niimi, R. (2021). Studies in Humanities (Niigata University), 148, Y33-Y54.
• Niimi, R. (2020). Technical Report of IEICE HIP, 120(185), 17-20.
• Mio, S. & Niimi, R. (2019). Technical Report of IEICE HIP, 119(348), 61-64.
• Kikuchi, N. & Niimi, R. (2019). Technical Report of IEICE HCS, 118(437), 39-44.
• Takahashi, N., Shirai, N., & Niimi, R. (2019). Technical Report of IEICE HCS, 118(437), 71-76.
• Kondo, A., Niimi, R., Takahashi, K., & Watanabe, K. (2011). Technical Report of IEICE HIP, 111(155), 63-38.

Others

• Niimi, R. & Yokosawa, K. Reaction time.   Nou-kagaku Jiten (Online disctionary of brain science, in Japanese). doi: 10.14931/bsd.806

Invited Talks

(in English)

• Niimi, R. (2008, February). Visual symmetry and human object perception. RIKEN BSI Forum, Wako, Japan.

(in Japanese)

• Niimi, R. (2019, February). 18th Meeting of Special Interest Group on Kansei, Fukuoka, Japan.
• Niimi, R. (2017, March). The 53rd Annual Meeting of Niigata Psychological Association, Niimigata, Japan.
• Niimi, R. (2015, June). The 26th Seminar of the Psychology Department, the Universitiy of Tokyo.
• Niimi, R. (2012, September). Japanese Cognitive Science Society Summer School 2012, Hakone, Japan.

Presentations at International Conferences

Please email for reprint request.

Poster Presentation

• Niimi, R. & Hirano, A. (2022, November). Perceptual correspondence between visual clutter and auditory features. Virtual poster presented at the 63rd Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting.
• Niimi, R. (2019, July 30). Attentional cueing effect by pointing hand and other cues: Differences and interactions. Poster session presented at the 15th Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision, Osaka, Japan.
  Abstract (p. 94)
• Yokosawa, K., Shimane, Y., & Niimi, R. (2019, June 27). Scene consistency effect of object recognition in peripheral vision. Poster session presented at the 23rd Annual Meeting of Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, London, ON, Canada.
• Niimi, R. (2018, November 17). How hands and faces guide visual selective attention. Poster session presented at the Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
• Niimi, R., Saiki, T., & Yokosawa, K. (2016, July). Auditory scene context facilitates visual object recognition. Poster session presented at the 31st International Congress of Psychology, Yokohama, Japan.
  Abstract
• Niimi, R. (2015, November). How do we see hands? Attentional deployment when observing hand images. Poster session presented at the Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, Chigaco, IL.
• Niimi, R. (2015, July). Modest effect of perspective distortion on object recognition. Poster session presented at the 11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision, Singapore.
  Reprint (PDF)
• Niimi, R. (2013, November). Camera focal length and object recognition. Poster session presented at the OPAM meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada.
• Yamashita, W., Niimi, R., Kanazawa, S., Yamaguchi, M. K., & Yokosawa, K. (2013, July). Three-quarter view preference for three-dimensional objects in 8-month-old infants. Poster session presented at the 9th Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision, Suzhou, China.
  Abstract
• Yokosawa, K., Sastyin, G., & Niimi, R. (2013, May). Does viewpoint dependency effect influence scene consistency effect? Poster session presented at the annual meeting of Vision Sciences Society, Naples, FL.
  Abstract
• Niimi, R. & Watanabe, K. (2012, November). How well do we know others' average liking? Poster session presented at the Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
• Niimi, R. (2012, July). Mahjong tile illusion: Illusory shape perception induced by object surface texture. Poster session presented at the 8th Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision, Incheon, Korea.
  Abstract
• Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2011, July). Consistency of likability to objects across views and time. Poster session presented at the 7th Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision, Hong Kong, China.
  Abstract
• Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2011, January). How well do we know others' preferences? Poster session presented at the International Workshop for Young Researchers "Knowing Self, Knowing Others", Kyoto, Japan.
• Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2010, August). Environmental reference frame alters the perceived orientation of three-dimensional object. Poster session presented at the 33rd European Conference on Visual Perception, Lausanne, Switzerland.
  Abstract
• Takahashi, K., Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2010, August). Illusory motion of blurred blue-red edges. Poster session presented at the 33rd European Conference on Visual Perception, Lausanne, Switzerland.
  Abstract
• Saneyoshi, A., Niimi, R., Abe, R., Kaminaga, T., & Yokosawa, K. (2009, November). Object orientation in canonical and accidental views: an fMRI study. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Boston, MA.
• Saneyoshi, A., Niimi, R., Suetsugu, T., Kaminaga, T., & Yokosawa, K. (2008, November). The failure on temporally separated visual information integration: an fMRI study. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Chicago, IL.
• Niimi, R., & Tanifuji, M. (2008, November). When does the visual attention shrink toward object? Poster session presented at the OPAM meeting, Chicago, IL.
• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2008, May). Three-quarter view is good because object orientation is uncertain. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of Vision Sciences Society, Naples, FL.
  Abstract
• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2007, November). A biased perception of the depth orientation of familiar objects. Poster session presented at the OPAM meeting, Long Beach, CA.
• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2007, May). It seems turn away from me: Foreshortened front-back axes bias determination of depth-orientation of familiar objects. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of Vision Sciences Society, Sarasota, FL.
  Abstract
• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2006, November). Determining the depth orientation of familiar objects. Poster session presented at the OPAM meeting, Houston, TX.
• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2006, May). Recognizing orientation of depth-rotated familiar objects. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Vision Sciences Society, Sarasota, FL.
  Abstract
• Niimi, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2005, November). Viewpoint dependency in the recognition of symmetric familiar objects. Poster session presented at the OPAM meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada.
• Niimi, R., Watanabe, K., & Yokosawa, K. (2005, May). Rapid successive presentation improves symmetry perception. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Vision Sciences Society, Sarasota, FL.
  Abstract
• Niimi, R., Yokosawa, K., & Watanabe, K. (2004, May). Search asymmetry in search for symmetry. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of Vision Sciences Society, Sarasota, FL.
  Abstract
• Yokosawa, K., Niimi, R., & Watanabe, K. (2003, May). Temporal characteristics of bilateral symmetry perception: Predominant effect of visible persistence. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of Vision Sciences Society, Sarasota, FL.
  Abstract

Oral Presentation

• Niimi, R., Ehara, R., & Yokosawa, K. (2014, November). On the top-view disadvantage in visual object recognition. Paper presented at the Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA.
• Niimi, R. (2014, July). When a Mackintosh chair looks like a young woman: A study on visual object personification. Paper presented at the 10th Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision, Takamatasu, Japan.
  Abstract

Awards

• 2021, First prize in the 13th Illusion Contest (Sakusi Sakucho Kontesuto). Watch this video.
• 2011, Won a prize in the 3rd Illusion Contest (Sakusi Kontesuto).
• 2010, Top 10 Finalist, 6th Annual Best Illusion of the Year Contest (Takahashi, Niimi, & Watanabe)

Others

• Memberships — Psychonomic Society (Fellow), Japanese Psychological Association, Japanese Psychonomic Society, Japan Society for Animation Studies, etc.
• Peer Review — Vision Research, Psychophysiology, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Japanese Psychological Research, Japanese Journal of Psychonomic Science, Scientific Reports, etc.

Last modified: 2025.4.1.
Copyright © 2009 Ryosuke NIIMI.