Figure-ground segmentation

Figure-ground segmentation is the visual process of distinguishing an object (the figure) from its background (the ground). It helps us identify and focus on specific elements in our environment by separating them from less relevant or surrounding details. For example, when looking at a person against a busy street scene, our brain isolates the person from the background, making it easier to recognize and interpret. This perceptual skill is essential for understanding complex scenes and is a fundamental part of how our visual system organizes our view of the world efficiently.