OBJECTIVE. The Gestalt theory of modern psychology is grounded in
the ideas that holistic rather than atomistic approaches are necessary to
understand the mind, and that the mental whole is greater than the sum of its
component parts. Although the Gestalt school fell out of favor due to its
descriptive rather than explanatory nature, it permanently changed our
understanding of perception. For the radiologist, such fundamental Gestalt
concepts as figure–ground relationships and a variety of "grouping
principles" (the laws of closure, proximity, similarity, common region,
continuity, and symmetry) are ubiquitous in daily work, not to mention in art
and personal life.
CONCLUSION. By considering the applications of these principles and
the stereotypical ways in which humans perceive visual stimuli, a radiology
learner may incur fewer errors of diagnosis. This article serves to introduce
several important principles of Gestalt theory, identify examples of these
principles in widely recognizable fine art, and highlight their implications
for radiology education.
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