How Optical Illusions Work: Image Play & A Sexy OI Video

ME and YOUAn optical illusion happens when we visually perceive images differently than they are in objective reality. The word illusion comes from the Latin verb illudere meaning, "to mock." Our eye gathers information and our brain processes it and decides how we perceive the given stimulus.

Perception refers to the interpretation of what we take in through our senses, in terms of optical illusions this means our eyes. The brain puts images together to try and help the data make sense. So we may see an illusion because we know what we are expected to see, even if all of the design, picture, or stimulus isn't completely there.

Your computer monitor presents an optical illusion. If you get up really close and look carefully, you will see that it is made of small green, blue, and red dots. But when you look at your screen from afar, you see thousands of colors. Your brain puts the green, blue and red dots together to make the large array of shades that you perceive.

There are three main types of optical illusions:

• literal optical illusions that create images that are different from the objects that make them
• physiological illusions that are the effects on the eyes and brain of excessive stimulation of a specific type (brightness, tilt, color, movement)
• cognitive illusions where the eye and brain make unconscious inferences

Here are a few fun word illusions and a fascinating video that I still shake my head at each time I watch.

GOOD and EVIL

OPTICAL/ILLUSION

TEACH and LEARN

Comments

[Rick Jones]

CooL....C o o l....CO O OL !

[greeenpro]

Awesome Illusion!!! HEhe..you rock for posting this. Cheers!

[Steve]

That is crazy. Wow. Super cool, just like you Jinxi.

[Tiger]

This is great! But do you ever post anything not 'great'?

hmmm... an optical illusion tattoo would be sweet. anyone have any?

[Lisa]

cool pictures.