6 incredible brain tricks that hide our vision imperfections

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The world is actually a little different from what we see it.

1. Temporary blindness

What it is

The peculiarity of our vision is its discreteness (discontinuity). The reason for this is the saccades. These are micromovements of the eyeball, performed simultaneously in one direction. During them, a person goes blind - he sees nothing. Vision seems to be paused.

We do not notice that vision is discrete, since our brain itself fills in the gaps. He completes the picture, fills in the missing fragments, fantasizes.

Saccades are needed in order to constantly change the angle of view a little bit. We see due to the fact that the brightness of the objects around us changes.

How does it manifest

Our eyes constantly scan the surrounding space, looking for something to cling to. It should be something contrasting - a bright spot, protrusion, details. That is why it is pleasant to be in the forest, where there are many contrasts, to consider objects interesting from the point of view of architecture, various elements.

But the monotony, homogeneity, the absence of elements that could catch the eye, seems boring to us.

You know, I don't understand how you can walk past a tree and not be happy that you see it?

Fyodor Dostoevsky "The Idiot"

2. Elongation of time

What it is

Saccades have an interesting effect. After them, we can feel the slowing down of time. This phenomenon is called chronostasis.

How does it manifest

If you look at the second hand of an analog clock, jumping from division to division, its first movement will seem slower than the subsequent ones. This is because the brain "slows down" a little after the saccade. The illusion of time elongation arises.

An experiment related to the perception of time was carried out by American scientists Chess Stetson and David Eagleman. They gave participants wrist displays with large, ever-changing numbers. At a low frequency, they could be easily distinguished. And when the speed of the change increased, the numbers merged into a uniform background.

Scientists have tried to prove that if a person is under stress, he will begin to see individual numbers again. According to their hypothesis, the brain perceives time differently in critical situations. The subjects jumped from a height of 31 meters onto a safety net. The experience did not work out, however, most likely, the stress was not as strong as required: people knew that there was insurance below and they would remain unharmed.

3. Hidden blind spots

What it is

There is a blind spot in the human eye - this is an area on the retina that is insensitive to light. There are no light receptors in this place due to the structural features of our organ of vision. But we do not notice this, because the brain deceives us.

How does it manifest

When we look with both eyes, blind spots are invisible. The same is true if you close one eye. In this case, the brain "loads" the image that it takes from the other eye.

But you can still find a blind spot. Use this picture:

• Close your right eye and look with your left eye at the right cross, circled.
• Without blinking, move or bring your face closer to the monitor.
• With peripheral vision, follow the left cross without looking at it.
• At some point, the left cross will disappear.

4. Different perception of color

What it is

Central and peripheral vision perceive colors differently. The thing is that there are two types of light-sensitive elements in the eye - cones (they distinguish colors better) and rods (they have higher light sensitivity). The place of the maximum accumulation of cones is the center of the eye. There are more sticks on the periphery.

Hence, the peculiarity of our vision arises. Peripheral vision allows you to see in semi-darkness and darkness. It picks up bright, contrasting colors better, such as black or red. But he perceives other shades worse.

How does it manifest

Despite the difference in central and peripheral vision, we see a complete picture. The final image gives birth to the brain, which thinks out, constructs it from the data already available. And it is not a fact that he is not mistaken and does not distort reality.

5. Special perception

What it is

This is a psychological theory, according to which we perceive the environment and events in it in terms of their ability to act. And this creates interesting visual illusions.

How does it manifest

Tennis players feel that the ball moves more slowly if they hit it successfully. If a person needs to catch the ball, it will seem bigger to him. The mountains look steeper if you are going upstairs with a heavy backpack.

Visual perception is influenced by the speed of movement, the shape, size of objects, as well as actions: hitting, intercepting, throwing, and so on. All this helps to survive. And if you want to see what an object looks like in reality, use a camera.

6. Inverted vision

What it is

In fact, the image hits the retina upside down. The cornea and lens are collecting lenses that, according to the laws of physics, turn objects upside down. Information enters the brain, and it processes and adapts it so that we see the world as it is.

How does it manifest

There is a simple but revealing way. Press down on the outer edge of the lower eyelid of your right eye with your finger. In the upper left corner, you will see a stain. This is a real, inverted image of your finger - as perceived by the eye.

The brain is able to adapt our vision. In 1896, UCLA doctor George Stratton created an invertoscope that turned over the image of the world around him. The person who wore this device saw objects as they fall on the retina of the eye.

Stratton found that if you wear an invertoscope for several days, the visual system adapts to the upside-down world, and disorientation decreases. In this way, you can train your spatial abilities.