Figure-Ground Perception

Figure-ground perception is the tendency of the visual system to simplify a scene into the main object that we are looking at and everything else that forms the background. This picture is the figure-ground perception.The red tree acts as the main figure while the yellow trees serve as the ground or background. 

Proximity

Proximity is objects or events that are near to one another are perceived as belonging together as a unit. In the first image the pizza is in 3 separate pieces. In the second image the pizza is still in pieces but they are closer together to be perceived as one whole piece.

Closure

Our minds fill in the gaps to create a complete object. In the picture below you see three seperate angles but our mind connects the angles to make a complete triangle. If you add a curve so there is no angle, our mind will no longer contruct the triangle image.

Similarity

We tend to seperate nearby figures into groups. Our brains try to look at similiar figures and group them together. In the picture below there is one group that is dressed in yellow and likes the Pittsburgh Steelers. The other group is dressed in black and likes the Oakland Raiders. Our mind groups them differently by the way they are dressed.

Continuity

We perceive smooth continuous lines such as wavy or straight lines. Our brains perceive straight lines rather then discontinuous ones. In the picture below you see a flock of geese flying. We look at them and we perceive them as flying in a "v" formation.

Brightness constancy

Brightness constancy is the tendency for a visual object to be perceived as having the same brightness under different conditions. In the first image, the leaf is in the shade and is darker. In the second image it is in the sunlight and is reflecting much more light, but we can percieve it as being the same color as the leaf in the shade. 

Motion Perception

Motion perception is the ability to perceive continuous movement in a rapid series of slightly varying images. This picture illustrates motion perception by flashing slightly different pictures to make it look like one motion.KIt I