Patrick's mother shows him the constellations in the night sky. Patrick likes the Big Dipper the best, because it's the easiest for him to see. On what principles of sensation and perception must Patrick rely to see the stars form what looks like a big spoon?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patrick must rely on the Gestalt law of organization called proximity, which groups elements that are close to each other as belonging together. This principle helps him perceive the stars as forming a recognizable shape, such as the Big Dipper. The other options (sensory prostheses, stroboscopic movement, and binocular depth cues) are not relevant to the perception of stars in the night sky.

Patrick's Mother Shows Him the Constellations in the Night Sky