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

Shape constancy

Shape constancy is the ability to percieve the shape of an object as constant even if the angle is changed or the shape is disorted. In the first image, the plate appears as a regular circle. In the second image, the angle is changed and the plate looks disorted but we still know it is a plate because shape constancy allows is to percieve it as a circle. 

Size constancy

Size constancy is perceiving the actual size of a familiar object despite differences in their distance. We can keep a constant size of an object and know that it does not change size as it moves closer or farther. In this image, the boy farther away appears smaller, but the eye is familiar with the normal body size and can perceive the actual size. 

 

Binocular Cue: Retinal Disparity

The difference between the two images in the left and right eye is the retinal disparity.
The view in the left picture is seen from the left eye and the picture on the right is the view from the right eye.

 

Monocular Cue: Linear Perspective
When parallel lines converge to create a perceived distance. To our eye it looks like the river no longer exists at the end but it looks that way because the parallel lines come together the farther away the river gets.
 

Monocular Cue: Relative Size
Relative size is a perceptual clue which allows you to determine how close objects are to an object of known size. The sun in this picture is obviously no where near the size of the person standing there holding it. It just looks like a smaller size because our eyes see the sun as a small object being held in her hands.