Bouba/Kiki Curvature Ergonomics
Cross-modal phoneme-shape association: Maluma/Takete (Köhler) -> Bouba/Kiki (Ramachandran)
Wolfgang Köhler (1929) / V.S. Ramachandran (2001)
The neurological cross-modal mapping wherein human visual cortex and amygdala perceive sharp angular vertices as threatening or high-urgency, and continuous rounded contours as benign and biologically safe.
Employing 26px pill borders in clinical healthcare and patient EHRs to reduce baseline cognitive anxiety, while enforcing 0px sharp corners in high-density telemetry to maximize screen real estate without subpixel blur.
“A corner radius is not a stylistic decoration; it is a neurological signal of threat or safety.”
Ramachandran, V. S., & Hubbard, E. M. (2001). Synaesthesia—a window into perception, thought and language. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 8(12), 3-34.
The Chromologium Archive (2026). “Bouba/Kiki Curvature Ergonomics”. Lexicon of Emergent Disciplines. https://chromologium.com/lexicon/bouba-kiki-curvature
Lexicon Inquiries: Bouba/Kiki Curvature Ergonomics
Canonical definitions, operational mechanics, and etymological origins of Bouba/Kiki Curvature Ergonomics.