01:185:201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Illusory Contours, Principles Of Grouping
18 Oct 2016
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Natalia Torres
October 2, 2016
Cognitive Science
Discussion Question
1. What are illusory contours? Give an example from the readings.
Illusionary contours are illusions that it make it seem like there are edges to a picture or
photo when in reality, there is no physical color or texture difference between the object and it’s
background. One of the most famous examples of this is called the Kanizsa triangle, in which a
visible white triangle is bound by three Pacman-looking figures at the corners. The edges of the
triangle can be seen against the black figures surrounding them, which helps us see the sides of
the triangle as well, though they are white and the same color as the background.
Illusionary contours are supported by the Gestalt principle of good continuation. The
principle states that people tend to perceive each object as a single and uninterrupted one,
especially when it intersecting or overlapping another object. The human eye has a tendency to
group and organize lines that follow the same direction, as opposed to those that have sharp
changes in direction. In the Kanizsa triangle, we follow the straight edges of the triangle that are
overlapping the back circles down to the edges opposite it, and our brain fills in the sides of the
triangle that actually aren't there. Since we have the three edges to the triangle, it becomes
easier for us to perceive what is missing, and we fill in what comes in-between.
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Document Summary
Illusionary contours are illusions that it make it seem like there are edges to a picture or photo when in reality, there is no physical color or texture difference between the object and it"s background. One of the most famous examples of this is called the kanizsa triangle, in which a visible white triangle is bound by three pacman-looking gures at the corners. The edges of the triangle can be seen against the black gures surrounding them, which helps us see the sides of the triangle as well, though they are white and the same color as the background. Illusionary contours are supported by the gestalt principle of good continuation. The principle states that people tend to perceive each object as a single and uninterrupted one, especially when it intersecting or overlapping another object. The human eye has a tendency to group and organize lines that follow the same direction, as opposed to those that have sharp changes in direction.
