Figures have three-dimensional representations or forms {gestalt}| built innately by vision, by analyzing stimulus interactions. Gestalt needs no learning.
Gestalt law
Finding stimulus relations or applying organizational laws {insight, Gestalt} allows recognizing figures, solving problems, and performing similar mental tasks. Related gestalt laws can conflict, and they have different relative strengths at different times. Grouping laws depend on figure-ground relationship, proximity, similarity, continuity, closure, connectedness, and context [Ehrenfels, 1891]. Laws {gestalt law} {grouping rule} {Gestalt grouping rule} can replace less-organized patterns with emphasized, complete, or adequate patterns. Gestalt laws are minimizations. Gestalt laws are assumptions about which visual-field parts are most likely to belong to which object.
Perception must separate object {figure, Gestalt} from background, using Gestalt laws [Ehrenfels, 1891]. Regions with one color are figures. Many-colored regions are ground. Smaller region is figure, and nearby larger region is ground.
Edges separate figure and ground. Lateral inhibition distinguishes and sharpens boundaries.
Both figure and ground are homogeneous regions. Surfaces recruit neighboring similar surfaces to expand homogeneous regions by wave entrainment.
Vision separates figure and ground by detecting edges and increasing homogeneous regions, using constraint satisfaction [Crane, 1992].
Perception must separate object figure from background {ground, Gestalt}, using Gestalt laws [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision finds simplest possible percept, which has internal consistency and regularity {pragnans} [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision tends to perceive incomplete or occluded figures as wholes {closure law} {law of closure}. Closed contour indicates figure [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision groups features doing same thing {common fate}, such as moving in same direction or moving away from point [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision groups two features that touch or that happen at same time {connectedness, Gestalt} {law of connectedness} [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision tends to perceive enclosed region as figure {enclosedness} {law of enclosedness} {surroundedness, Gestalt}. Surrounded region is figure, and surrounding region is ground [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision perceives organization that interrupts fewest lines or that lies on one contour {good continuation} {law of good continuation}. Smooth lines, with no sharp angles, are figure parts. Regions with fewer continuous lines, fewer angles, and fewer angle differences are figures [Ehrenfels, 1891]. For example, the good-continuation law reflects probability that aligned edges belong to same object.
Vision groups two parallel contours {parallelism, Gestalt}. Region parallel contours are figure parts, and non-parallel contours are ground parts [Ehrenfels, 1891]. Surfaces have periodic structure that can model periodic structures.
Adjacent features are figure parts {proximity, Gestalt} {law of proximity} [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision finds image boundaries, to make perceptual regions, by angles, lines, and distances {segregation, Gestalt} {law of segregation, Gestalt} {differentiation, Gestalt} {law of differentiation} [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Similar shape, color, and size parts go together {similarity, Gestalt} {law of similarity} [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision groups symmetrical contours {symmetry, Gestalt}. Symmetrical region is figure, and asymmetrical region is ground. Symmetrical closed region is figure [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Vision groups features that change simultaneously {synchrony, Gestalt}, even if features move in different directions and/or at different speeds [Ehrenfels, 1891].
Outline of Knowledge Database Home Page
Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0225