61 Optical Illusions & Visual Phenomena
Here is an excellent resource for different visual illusion and phenomena. Michael Bach has made an impressive collection of different illusions. Each illusion is also accompanied by descriptions of how and why they work. Many illusions are also manipulable to better illustrate the effect. 61 Optical Illusions & Visual Phenomena by Michael Bach, University of […]
Here is an excellent resource for different visual illusion and phenomena. Michael Bach has made an impressive collection of different illusions. Each illusion is also accompanied by descriptions of how and why they work. Many illusions are also manipulable to better illustrate the effect.
61 Optical Illusions & Visual Phenomena
by Michael Bach, University of Freiburg, Germany
These pages demonstrate visual phenomena and »optical illusions« or »visual illusions«. The latter is more appropriate, because most effects have their basis in the visual pathway, not in the optics of the eye. I selected these based on relative novelty and interactivity. When I find the time I will expand the explanations , to the degree that these phenomena are really understood. Any nice and thoughtful comment welcome.
Most visitors of this site are not vision scientists, so you might find the explanatory attempts too highbrow. That is not on purpose, but vision research just is not trivial, like any science. So, if the explanation sounds like rubbish, simply enjoy the phenomenon ;–).
»Optical illusion« sounds pejorative, as if exposing a malfunction of the visual system. Rather, I view these phenomena as bringing out particular good adaptations of our visual system to standard viewing situations. These adaptations are »hard-wired« into our brains, and thus under some artificial manipulations can cause inappropriate interpretations of the visual scene. Or, as Purkinje put it: »Illusions of the senses tell us the truth about perception« (cited by Teuber, 1960).
Before we delve in, I’d like to express my thanks to the many visitors who went out of their way to give overwhelmingly positive feedback, adding constructive advice on content, style and typography; please do keep it coming! I have also been able to improve explanations when convincing scientific evidence was sent ;-). Yes, it does take sizable resources to set up and maintain this, but it is also very rewarding, bringing me into contact with so many charming fellow human beings. Should you want to give back, simply link to this page or use the donation link ;-). Any advice is appreciated – and, yes, for a non-native speaker, English does represent sizable challenges.
