Descriptive aspects of images and interpretation of recognized findings rely heavily on the body of knowledge, training and experience of the observer. The perceptual process, wherein the information implicit in the image is transferred explicitly to the level of consciousness and decision making, is a function that radiologists acquire by training and clinical experience.
Radiologists are no better than laymen in discovering simple objects in camouflaged environment.
For medical images however, which the physician is trained to recognize, vast differences between radiologists and laymen are demonstrated. Conversely, untrained observers may identify pictorial shapes and recognizable objects that will be completely obliterated by the radiologist's perception due to the bias of his knowledge of the underlying anatomical and physical structures. The purpose of this work is to illustrate that through proper presentation and processing of selected images, non-anatomical shapes and objects can be suggested. By overriding the highly trained and knowledge-based perception by a more artistic and cognitive observation of these images unexpected figures can be observed. Osman Ratib, M.D., Ph.