What is the principle that occurs when the eye is compelled to move through one object and continue to another?

Continuation is the principle that describes how the eye is guided along a path and compelled to move seamlessly from one object to another. This concept is rooted in the Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes how humans perceive visual components according to certain organizing principles. When two elements are perceived in such a way that they form a continuous line or a pattern, our visual system tends to follow this trajectory rather than break it, allowing us to form a cohesive understanding of the objects within a space. This principle is often used in design to create flow and connection, guiding the viewer's attention smoothly from one point to another, enhancing their overall experience of the visual information presented.

In this context, other principles like closure refer to the tendency of the brain to fill in gaps to create a complete image, figure and ground help in distinguishing between an object and its background, and proximity indicates how elements that are close to each other are perceived as part of a group. While these concepts are important in understanding perception in design, continuation specifically addresses the movement of the eye across objects, linking them through an implied or explicit pathway.