Difference between revisions of "Rubin vase" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
The illusion generally presents the viewer with a mental choice of two interpretations, each of which is valid. One interpretation is of two black [[face]]s in the foreground with a white background. The other is of a black [[vase]] in the foreground with a white background. Often, the viewer sees only one of the two valid interpretations, and only realizes the second after some time or prompting. When one attempts to simultaneously see the both interpretations, one finds that it is not possible to perceive both interpretations simultaneously, as one occludes the other. | The illusion generally presents the viewer with a mental choice of two interpretations, each of which is valid. One interpretation is of two black [[face]]s in the foreground with a white background. The other is of a black [[vase]] in the foreground with a white background. Often, the viewer sees only one of the two valid interpretations, and only realizes the second after some time or prompting. When one attempts to simultaneously see the both interpretations, one finds that it is not possible to perceive both interpretations simultaneously, as one occludes the other. | ||
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| + | The illusion is somewhat similar to the "duck-rabbit" ambiguous figure described by [[Joseph Jastrow]], although in that case the figure is always seen as the object but it's identification switches back and forth from that of a [[duck]] to that of a [[rabbit]]. In the Rubin vase, the face and vase alternate between figure and ground, such that the part of the image seen as object alternates. | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
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==Applications== | ==Applications== | ||
| − | Rubin's figure-ground distinction influenced the [[Gestalt psychology | + | Rubin's figure-ground distinction influenced the [[Gestalt psychology|Gestalt psychologists]], who discovered many similar illusions themselves. The involved higher-level cognitive pattern matching involved, where the overall picture determines its mental interpretation, not the net effect of the individual pieces, intrigued the Gestalt psychologists, who were very interested in the operational principle of the brain as holistic and parallel. |
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 19:07, 22 November 2007
Rubin's vase (sometimes known as the Rubin face or the Figure-ground vase) is a famous set of cognitive optical illusions developed around 1915 by the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin.
Discovery
The Rubin vase illusion was first developed by psychologist Edgar Rubin, although similar images can be found in eighteenth century French prints.[1] The image was introduced in 1915 in Rubin's two-volume work, the Danish-language Synsoplevede Figurer ("Visual Figures"), which was very well-received; Rubin included a number of similar images, such as a black and white Maltese cross figure, but the one that became the most famous was the figure-ground vase (perhaps because the Maltese cross could also be easily interpreted as a black and white beach ball.)
Description
The illusion generally presents the viewer with a mental choice of two interpretations, each of which is valid. One interpretation is of two black faces in the foreground with a white background. The other is of a black vase in the foreground with a white background. Often, the viewer sees only one of the two valid interpretations, and only realizes the second after some time or prompting. When one attempts to simultaneously see the both interpretations, one finds that it is not possible to perceive both interpretations simultaneously, as one occludes the other.
The illusion is somewhat similar to the "duck-rabbit" ambiguous figure described by Joseph Jastrow, although in that case the figure is always seen as the object but it's identification switches back and forth from that of a duck to that of a rabbit. In the Rubin vase, the face and vase alternate between figure and ground, such that the part of the image seen as object alternates.
Explanation
Rubin explained the illusion as follows:
One can then state as a fundamental principle: When two fields have a common border, and one is seen as figure and the other as ground, the immediate perceptual experience is characterized by a shaping effect which emerges from the common border of the fields and which operates only on one field or operates more strongly on one than on the other. [2]
The illusion is an excellent and intuitive demonstration of the figure-ground distinction the brain makes during visual perception. Normally the brain classifies images by what surrounds a figure, establishing depth and other relationships. If one object surrounds another, the surrounded object is usually seen as figure, and the presumably further away (and hence background) object is the ground. In the three dimensional world, if an object such as a piece of fruit is lying on the ground, one would want to pay attention to the "figure" and not the "ground." However, when the contours are relatively equal, ambiguity starts to creep in, and the brain must begin "shaping" what it sees. Since the contours are ambiguous, the brain can alternatively interpret the black areas as figure or ground.
Applications
Rubin's figure-ground distinction influenced the Gestalt psychologists, who discovered many similar illusions themselves. The involved higher-level cognitive pattern matching involved, where the overall picture determines its mental interpretation, not the net effect of the individual pieces, intrigued the Gestalt psychologists, who were very interested in the operational principle of the brain as holistic and parallel.
Notes
- ↑ "Figure/ground" 1997. IllusionWorks. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ↑ Rubin, Edgar. Synsoplevede Figurer, 1915
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Kennedy, John M. A Psychology of Picture Perception 1974, Jossey-Bass Publishers, ISBN 0-87589-204-3
- Wade, Nicholas. The art and science of visual illusions 1982 Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd. ISBN 0-7100-0868-6
- Ittelson, William H. Visual Space Perception 1969, Springer Publishing Company, LOCCCN 60-15818
- Hasson, Uri, Talma Hendler, Dafna Ben Bashat, and Rafael Malach. "Vase or face? A neural correlates of shape-selective grouping processes in the human brain." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Vol 13(6), Aug 2001. pp. 744-753. ISSN 0898-929X (Print)
External links
- Figure/Ground Illusionworks.com article Retrieved November 16, 2007.
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