[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Neural representation of gestalt grouping and attention effect in human visual cortex

## Details

**Authors** Wu et al.

**Year** 2023

**Publisher** Journal of Neuroscience Methods

**Discipline** Neuroscience

[Read it](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37783351/)

## In authors' words

### What they set out to do (purpose)

To decode where and how Gestalt proximity grouping is neurally represented across early human visual areas.

### What they found (results)

fMRI MVPA showed proximity-grouped elements produced early-visual-cortex patterns resembling whole oriented gratings; grouping strength increased from V1 to V3 and was modulated by attention.

## Commentary

### In short

The brain encodes grouped parts as a single unified whole.

### In more detail

The brain encodes separate elements as a unified whole when grouped by Gestalt proximity, showing part–whole organization is built into early perception. Purpose: To decode where and how Gestalt proximity grouping is neurally represented across early human visual areas. Finding: fMRI MVPA showed proximity-grouped elements produced early-visual-cortex patterns resembling whole oriented gratings; grouping strength increased from V1 to V3 and was modulated by attention. [Added 2026-07-30 as new evidence beyond the original 109; DSRP structural basis: S axiom (Membership): individual parts are neurally bound into a single perceptual whole; extends the existing Montoro Gestalt-grouping entry.]

**Patterns it shows** S

**Added** 2026-07-30

**How to cite this** Wu et al. (2023). Neural representation of gestalt grouping and attention effect in human visual cortex. Journal of Neuroscience Methods.