Optical Illusions
Rachel Hahn
Cheryl Blackwell
Seminar
November 2012
Optical Illusions An illusion is the distorted perception of a stimulus. They are not to be confused with hallucinations, which are false perceptions when there is no presence of a stimulus, in contrast, illusions are the misinterpretation of a true sensation (Illusion Wikipedia). Illusions are mundane phenomena, and are experienced by nearly everyone in similar ways where hallucinations are a personal experience and are typically limited to people who are mentally ill or under the influence of certain drugs (Hallucination Wikipedia). Some illusions occur automatically because it is in our biological nature to perceive things in a particular way, for example objects that are farther away appear smaller than closer objects. Other illusions can be shown by displaying certain visual tricks that we know will cause an illusion because we have knowledge of how our bodies interpret stimuli (Illusion Wikipedia). Illusions give us an understanding as to how our brain organizes and translates stimuli. They help explain and support the Laws of Perceptual Organization defined in Gestalt Psychology. These laws explain how we visualize the world around us and will later be talked about in more detail (Gleitman, Gross and Reisberg). There are more illusions than just optical; they can occur with all of your senses such at auditory illusions (sound) and tactile illusions (touch) (Illusion Wikipedia). Optical illusions are however the most notorious and understood; there are various different kinds of optical illusions and in my research I looked closely at the boundary extension illusion, the moon illusion, motion illusion, and autokinetic illusions, which are all optical illusions. I also researched many supported theories and explanations of why illusions occur. We do not just “receive” visual information, we interpret it. The interpretation is an essential part of our perception and aids us in perceiving the world
Cheryl Blackwell
Seminar
November 2012
Optical Illusions An illusion is the distorted perception of a stimulus. They are not to be confused with hallucinations, which are false perceptions when there is no presence of a stimulus, in contrast, illusions are the misinterpretation of a true sensation (Illusion Wikipedia). Illusions are mundane phenomena, and are experienced by nearly everyone in similar ways where hallucinations are a personal experience and are typically limited to people who are mentally ill or under the influence of certain drugs (Hallucination Wikipedia). Some illusions occur automatically because it is in our biological nature to perceive things in a particular way, for example objects that are farther away appear smaller than closer objects. Other illusions can be shown by displaying certain visual tricks that we know will cause an illusion because we have knowledge of how our bodies interpret stimuli (Illusion Wikipedia). Illusions give us an understanding as to how our brain organizes and translates stimuli. They help explain and support the Laws of Perceptual Organization defined in Gestalt Psychology. These laws explain how we visualize the world around us and will later be talked about in more detail (Gleitman, Gross and Reisberg). There are more illusions than just optical; they can occur with all of your senses such at auditory illusions (sound) and tactile illusions (touch) (Illusion Wikipedia). Optical illusions are however the most notorious and understood; there are various different kinds of optical illusions and in my research I looked closely at the boundary extension illusion, the moon illusion, motion illusion, and autokinetic illusions, which are all optical illusions. I also researched many supported theories and explanations of why illusions occur. We do not just “receive” visual information, we interpret it. The interpretation is an essential part of our perception and aids us in perceiving the world