An optical illusion is a visual phenomenon where the brain misinterprets what the eyes perceive. It occurs when the information sent by the eyes conflicts with how the brain processes and understands what it sees. These illusions often trick us into seeing things that are not there, or perceiving objects differently from reality. For example, a still image might appear to move, or two shapes may seem unequal in size even though they are identical.
Which circle is the bigger one?
Look at this image carefully. Which circle do you think is the bigger one? Most people think the orange circle on the left (discovered in an experiment) is larger than the one on the right, but it's actually 6% smaller. Next up, in this version, too, most thought that the orange circle on the left was bigger, but turns out that the one on the right is actually 10% bigger.
People of this profession got it right
Turns out, if you are a radiologist, you will be able to see that in fact, the circle on the right is bigger than the left one. It so happens that extensive training of radiologists, makes them develop a keen eye as they can read spots on MRIs, and X-Ray findings quite well, even identifying the smallest of tumours.
Types of optical illusions
There are three main types of optical illusions:
Literal Illusions : These occur when the brain combines elements of an image to create something that doesn’t exist. For example, an image might look like two faces or a vase depending on how you interpret it.
Physiological Illusions: These are caused by overstimulation of the visual system, such as excessive exposure to light, movement, or color. They can create effects like afterimages or motion illusions.
Cognitive Illusions : These rely on how the brain subconsciously interprets information. Examples include illusions like the Müller-Lyer illusion, where lines appear longer or shorter due to surrounding shapes.
How do optical illusions work ?
Optical illusions occur because of the way our brain processes visual information. The human vision system is complex but not perfect. When light enters the eyes, it is converted into signals by the retina and sent to the brain for interpretation. The brain uses past experiences and patterns to fill in gaps and make sense of what it sees.
Which circle is the bigger one?
Look at this image carefully. Which circle do you think is the bigger one? Most people think the orange circle on the left (discovered in an experiment) is larger than the one on the right, but it's actually 6% smaller. Next up, in this version, too, most thought that the orange circle on the left was bigger, but turns out that the one on the right is actually 10% bigger.
People of this profession got it right
Turns out, if you are a radiologist, you will be able to see that in fact, the circle on the right is bigger than the left one. It so happens that extensive training of radiologists, makes them develop a keen eye as they can read spots on MRIs, and X-Ray findings quite well, even identifying the smallest of tumours.
Types of optical illusions
There are three main types of optical illusions:
Literal Illusions : These occur when the brain combines elements of an image to create something that doesn’t exist. For example, an image might look like two faces or a vase depending on how you interpret it.
Physiological Illusions: These are caused by overstimulation of the visual system, such as excessive exposure to light, movement, or color. They can create effects like afterimages or motion illusions.
Cognitive Illusions : These rely on how the brain subconsciously interprets information. Examples include illusions like the Müller-Lyer illusion, where lines appear longer or shorter due to surrounding shapes.
How do optical illusions work ?
Optical illusions occur because of the way our brain processes visual information. The human vision system is complex but not perfect. When light enters the eyes, it is converted into signals by the retina and sent to the brain for interpretation. The brain uses past experiences and patterns to fill in gaps and make sense of what it sees.
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