Figure-ground organization

Figure-ground organization is a perceptual concept that describes how we visually separate an object (the figure) from its background (the ground). For example, when looking at a picture, our brain instinctively focuses on the main subject—a person, an animal, or an object—while disregarding the background. This ability allows us to recognize and interpret scenes more effectively. Our perception can shift, meaning an image can be seen in different ways depending on what we identify as the figure versus the ground, highlighting the flexibility and complexity of our visual processing.