Which Gestalt principle states that parts of a visual stimulus that are close together are perceived as belonging together?

The principle that states parts of a visual stimulus that are close together are perceived as belonging together is known as the proximity principle. This principle is one of the foundational concepts in Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes how our brains organize visual information into meaningful patterns and wholes rather than viewing elements in isolation.

According to the proximity principle, when objects or shapes are located near each other, they are naturally grouped by the observer's perception. This is because the brain tends to associate elements that are spatially close, making it easier for us to process visual information quickly and efficiently. For instance, dots that are clustered together are likely seen as a group, whereas dots that are spaced apart are perceived individually.

Other principles mentioned, such as continuity, closure, and similarity, focus on different aspects of visual perception. The continuity principle involves the tendency to perceive lines and patterns as continuing in space, closure refers to the mind's inclination to perceive incomplete shapes as complete, and similarity focuses on grouping elements based on shared characteristics like color or shape. Each of these principles contributes to how we make sense of visual stimuli, but proximity specifically addresses how closeness in space influences our perception of grouping.