Thanks to modern neuroscience, we can understand the brain processes that take place we encounter some visual illusions. Explore this collection of popular illusions and find out how they work.
Category Archives: Perception and Reality
The Best Illusions of the Year Will Leave Your Brain Hurting More Than 2021 Did
Look at the top illusions of the past year.
Who Decided to Put 60 Seconds in a Minute?
Watch this video to learn how an ancient civilization still influences how we view something as fundamental as time.
Is Hypnosis Real?
In this short column, a doctor dispels myths about hypnosis to finally answer that age old question: Is hypnosis real?
The Silent “Sixth” Sense
Proprioception is the way the human body remains aware of itself, even in darkness. Learn more about this mysterious and fascinating function of the brain in this article.
Forget Everything You Think You Know About Time
A theoretical physicist challenges the widely-accepted linear representation of time.
How Computer-Assisted Telepathy Helps Humans Communicate
Can computers allow people to telepathically communicate? Read this short article and view the accompanying video to learn more about research into computer-assisted human telepathic communication.
Why People Misperceive Crime Trends (Chicago Is Not the Murder Capital)
Is the crime rate decreasing, or skyrocketing off the charts? In which cities is crime the worst? Click this link to learn about trends in Americans’ perceptions and misperceptions related to crime.
The Evolution of the Human Eye
How did a structure as complex as the human eye come to be?
‘Zoom Dysmorphia’: How Video Conferencing Can Wreck Our Self-Image
How does frequent video conferencing affect the way we see ourselves?
10 Surprising Ways Senses Shape Perception
Read this article to learn about some of the ways our senses can distort our perception.
Your Brain Perceives Reality By Hallucinating
Are our minds playing tricks on us all the time? Click this link to watch an animated video that explains what perception and hallucination have in common.
Eight Ways Your Perception of Reality Is Skewed
Researchers have found that people wearing heavy backpacks perceive the hills they are climbing as steeper than people who aren’t wearing backpacks do. Read this article to find out more about how our perceptions can become distorted.
Why time feels so weird in 2020
Check out this link to try out some cool interactive perception tests that demonstrate how our sense of time can be distorted.
Can Language Influence Our Perception of Reality?
Learn about research into how and why people from different linguistic backgrounds might remember the same event in different ways.
“Reality” is constructed by your brain. Here’s what that means, and why it matters.
How do we know what is real? This article includes some striking visual illusions and explains how they serve as a good reminder that our perception of reality is not always accurate.
Why do people fall for misinformation?
Being misled, whether purposefully or accidentally, can leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Watch the video to learn more about your tongue’s taste receptors, and learn how to avoid being misinformed and misled.
Makeup Artist Transforms Her Face Into Mind-Bending Optical Illusions
Mimi Choi’s makeup skills will make you question reality. Many may consider makeup an art form, and Choi reinforces that notion. Check out her trippy designs here.
How to Think Like an Optimist and Stay Positive
Can you trick yourself into being positive? One researcher thinks so! Read about her strategies here.
How Mirages Work
Have you ever been in a car on a hot day and seen water on the road far away, only to find that there’s nothing there? If so, you’ve seen a trick of the light called a mirage. This article explains what causes mirages and the different types you might see.