Perceptual Organization

the organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground)

the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

proximity, similarity, continuity, connectedness, closure

the ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two dimensional; allows us to judge distance

a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals

depth cues, such as retinal disparity, that depend on the use of two eyes

a binocular cue for receiving depth: by comparing images from the retinas in the two eyes, the brain computes distance

the closer the object.

depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone

brain perceives continuous movement in a rapid series of slightly varying images

an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession

perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent shapes, size, lightness, and color) even as illumination and retinal images change

we perceive an object as having constant lightness even while its illumination vairies

the amount of light an object reflects relative to its surroundings; light constancy is dependent upon this

perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object