Optical illusions are always a good time and something that you can do by yourself or even with a group of people, but the science behind these brain teasers can be even more interesting. In a new summary by Neuroscience News, they take a deeper dive into what is actually happening in your brain when you view certain images and motions at the cellular level. They even provide a few videos and examples so that you walk away with additional confidence in your brain!
Key Takeaways:
- Basically, an illusion occurs when the pattern of light falling on the retina of a human eye differs from what the owner of the retina perceives.
- Aristotle noted that pebbles beside a running stream appeared to move when he shifted his gaze to them after watching the water move over the pebble bed for some time.
- The optical illusion, or motion aftereffect, occurs when a stationary object appears to move in a distinct direction after a viewer has watched a mobile one for a time.
“Addams did not need a theory to know that this was an illusion: the rocks looked stationary before looking at the waterfall but appeared to move upwards after having stared at the waterfall.”
Read more: https://neurosciencenews.com/waterfall-illusion-brain-14138/