Figure ground illusions are a type of perceptual illusion that play with our ability to distinguish between the figure, or the object of focus, and the ground, or the background.
Figure ground illusions work by creating ambiguity or conflict in the visual information that the brain receives, leading to an instability in our perception of what is the figure and what is the background.
As a result, our perception of the figure and the background can alternate, or both can be perceived simultaneously, creating an illusion.
Table of Contents
- How do Figure Ground Illusions work?
- Versions of Figure Ground Illusions
- Illusions like Figure Ground Illusions
- Discovery of Figure Ground Illusions
- References and Resources
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How do Figure Ground Illusions work?
Figure-ground illusions work by exploiting the way our visual system organizes visual information into distinct objects and backgrounds. Our brain is naturally wired to identify objects and separate them from the background, and it uses various cues, such as edges, color, and texture, to do this. In a figure-ground illusion, the information presented creates an ambiguity or conflict in the visual cues, leading to an instability in our perception of what is the figure and what is the background.
One way that figure-ground illusions work is by creating a clash between the global and local processing of visual information. Our visual system processes information both globally, taking into account the overall configuration of the image, and locally, focusing on the details of the individual elements. In a figure-ground illusion, the global and local processing systems can come into conflict, leading to an instability in the perception of the figure and the background.
Another way that figure-ground illusions work is by creating an ambiguity in the perceptual organization of the visual information. For example, in the Rubin vase illusion, the black lines that form the vase could also be perceived as the spaces between the black shapes, creating an ambiguity about what is the figure and what is the background.
Overall, figure-ground illusions demonstrate the importance of context and the active role that our brain plays in shaping our perception of the world. They highlight the dynamic nature of perception and show how our brain can rapidly switch between different interpretations of the same information.
Versions of Figure Ground Illusions
The following are some alternate versions of Figure Ground Illusions:
Is it an image of the US State Idaho or a person’s face?
Illusions like Figure Ground Illusions
In a figure-ground illusion, the brain receives ambiguous or conflicting information about what is the figure and what is the background, leading to an instability in the perception of the two. As a result, the figure and the background can appear to switch or can be perceived simultaneously, creating an illusion. Figure-ground illusions demonstrate the dynamic nature of perception and the active role that our brain plays in constructing a meaningful representation of the world based on the available sensory information.
Ambiguous illusions are a type of perceptual illusion that involve the presentation of information that can be interpreted in multiple ways, leading to conflicting or unstable perceptions. The brain is faced with an ambiguity, or uncertainty, about what to interpret as the figure and what to interpret as the background, leading to a switch between different interpretations of the same information.
In an ambiguous illusion, the same set of visual elements can be perceived in multiple ways, and the perception can switch rapidly and unpredictably between these interpretations. Some well-known examples of ambiguous illusions include the Rubin vase, the Necker cube, and the Schröder staircase.
Ambiguous illusions demonstrate the dynamic and active nature of perception, and highlight the importance of context and the role that our brain plays in shaping our interpretation of the world. They also provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of visual perception and the way that the brain processes and interprets sensory information.
Some related illusions include the following:
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The illusion is named after the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin, who described it in his 1915 book “Visual Perception”.
The Rubin vase illustrates the principle of figure-ground perception, which is the ability of the human visual system to separate an object from its background.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.
The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.
The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
The Monroe-Einstein illusion works by playing with the viewer’s expectations about the relationships between the features of the faces and the viewer’s sense of facial proportions.
Discovery of the Rubin Vase Illusion
The concept of figure-ground perception is generally attributed to the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin,
Rubin introduced the concept in 1915 in his book “Visuelle Figuren” (Visual Figures), where he described the principle of figure-ground organization and its role in shaping our perception of the world. Rubin’s work laid the foundation for the study of figure-ground perception and had a profound impact on the field of psychology and the study of visual perception.
Rubin’s contribution to the study of figure-ground perception is widely recognized and his name is often associated with the concept. However, it’s worth noting that the idea of figure-ground perception has roots in the work of other psychologists and artists, who explored the role of visual perception in shaping our interpretation of the world. Nevertheless, Rubin is widely credited with introducing the concept of figure-ground perception and advancing our understanding of its role in shaping our perception.
Edgar Rubin was a Danish psychologist and author. He is best known for his work on visual perception and his 1915 book “Visual Perception” in which he described the Rubin vase illusion.
Rubin was born in 1882 and received his PhD in psychology from the University of Copenhagen in 1911.
He worked as a professor of psychology at the University of Copenhagen and later at the University of Aarhus.
He was a leading figure in the field of perception research and also made contributions to the study of memory and attention. Rubin died in 1948.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.