FOR all the fun we have with them, illusions do serious work in illuminating how our brains work, and in particular how perception works. They may also help us understand how consciousness developed, and tell us about our “neuro-archaeology” and the behaviour patterns laid down in the nervous system over evolutionary time.
But let’s concentrate on perception: it is tricky enough. I’ve tried to classify illusions in a way that shows the principles underlying them, starting with physical causes, moving on to physiological disturbances of neural signals, and finally to cognitive processes – where the brain tries to make sense of sensory signals, not always successfully.
New Scientist (thanks, Tiram)
Love the picture by Edgar Mueller, him and Jullian Beaver do some awesome stuff with a bit of chalk and a pavement!!
http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm
http://www.metanamorph.com/
if you have time check them out.
I’ve been looking through the blog and it is very interesting. I’m definately going to do some more research on the things you do, it intrigues me so much! One thing, Did you purposely spell the title ‘Peeriodic’?
- Yup – Phillis
Ahh, I understand why now, after reading the full article.
I’ve heard about the picture above. Had no idea it looked so real! Someone once did something like that in the town centre near where I live (it was a painting of a well,) and everyone was walking around it, even though they knew it wasn’t real!
And not to forget the illusions which have nothing to do with seeing …… lots of categories in there as well …
but more with hearing at times … or with thinking patterns … ofcourse .. all connected to the brain again … that’s up to scientists to dig in there and give it names .. all those neat structures.
For the users the surface above is normally enough to work with it … Even when it fucks up ..
And the illusion of photographs …. Ever been with someone who’s pictures was taken in one of those 1-p cabins? When the pic comes out you go: ” WTF is that?!”
The main illusion remains ofcourse .. i won’t say the word …