Kanizsa figure

any one of several figures that induce the perception of illusory contours defining a shape that appears to be brighter than the background. The most common example is the Kanizsa triangle, which is induced by three black circles placed as the apexes of a triangle. Each circle has a 60° wedge removed so that these wedges become the angles of the illusory triangle. Even though nothing connects the circles, a strong impression of a triangle that is brighter than the background is perceived. [Gaetano Kanizsa (1913–1993), Italian psychologist]

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

care of young

a manifestation of parental behavior or alloparenting in animals, usually stimulated by hormonal and other physiological changes when in the presence of offspring. These include the secretion of prolactin, which induces broodiness and parental feeding of young in birds and milk production in mammals.