Psychology and Neuroscience Stack Exchange
Psychology and Neuroscience Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [optical-illusion]

For questions relating to optical illusions, how our perceptual and cognitive mechanisms give rise to them, the neurological basis of perceiving optical illusions and general queries relating to optical illusion research.

An optical illusion (also called a visual illusion) is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a perception that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source.

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Why can I see the number only when I don't look directly at it?

I've recently found the following image: I can easily see the "17" in the image if I'm scrolling and (much less easy) when I move my eyes and don't look directly on it. Why is that the case? In case you don't see it:
Martin Thoma
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To what category of optical illusions does this image belong?

To what class of optical illusions does the below image belong? The diagonal lines are parallel, but because of the context, the longer of the two appears bent.
Doubt
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Why do people see movement where none exists?

We all know that motion pictures, TV programs and videos aren't necessarily moving and they are different of how we see motion in real life that are just a series of still images in rapid succession on a flat surface, live-action movies are…
Amber Alvia
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Water rushing away causing a pronounced sense of movement -- is there a name for this?

I had never heard of this happening before nor can I find anything online but this happened to me years ago, did not try it again and I wonder if once you realize the illusion it no longer works. As I recall, I was standing on the shore and I think…
releseabe
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