L U N A T A L K with Eva Moon

Tricks you can play on your brain

June 24, 2007 on 11:40 am | Join the conversation. You know you want to. | In Found, General Musing, WTF

Most people I know hate spoilers. They get really bent out of shape if you let it slip that, say, Bruce Willis was a dead guy. But illusions are immune. They go right to the total denial lobe of the brain, like a stubborn child who insists he wasn’t sneaking a cookie no matter how many times you point out that he is standing right there with a hand in the cookie jar and crumbs on his face.

I’m sure you’ve seen all the usual Optical Illusions, but I thought these were unusual enough to warrant a post:

1. What are you looking at? Are you SURE? Look closely. Now, back up about eight paces and look again. Told ya.

2. Your eyes will keep on lying. I swear, it doesn’t make any difference how many times I test this image in Photoshop, my brain will not concede that squares A and B are the same color:

3. Name that tune. Listen to this. What’s the song? Now listen to this. Now go back to the first one and listen again. Here’s another one (you need stereo headphones for this one: Listen. Which tone is higher? How about this one? You’ll probably clearly hear one tone higher or lower, but your friend may hear the opposite. You’re both wrong.

4. Is it moving? This site has a very interesting collection of motion illusions along with explanations. Don’t miss the “Two-Stroke Motion” illusion at the bottom of the list.