Check out this intriguing Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion. Is this an image of a pyramid on top of a column or is this an image of a hollow column? Can you see both?
If you are interested in learning more about the Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion, scroll down to read about it!
The Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion is an example of a concave-convex illusion.
The concave-convex illusion like the Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion, is known as the reversible concave-convex illusion, is a visual illusion that involves the perception of a two-dimensional figure as either concave (curved inward) or convex (curved outward) depending on how it is presented.
In this illusion, an ambiguous figure, typically a drawing or a silhouette, is shown with alternating regions of shading or contrast. These shading cues can be interpreted in different ways by the brain, leading to the perception of either a concave or convex shape.
When the figure is presented with certain regions appearing darker or shaded, our brain tends to interpret those regions as concave, as if the surface is curving inward. Conversely, when the same figure is presented with those regions appearing lighter or highlighted, the brain interprets them as convex, as if the surface is curving outward.
The Necker cube is a classic example of the concave-convex illusion. It is a wireframe drawing of a cube that can be perceived as rotating either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on how it is viewed. This happens because the shading cues on the cube create an ambiguity that allows the brain to interpret it as either a concave or convex 3D object.
The Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion highlights the brain’s ability to interpret ambiguous visual cues and illustrates the role of context and prior knowledge in shaping our perception of the world. It demonstrates how our brain uses contextual information and past experiences to make sense of complex visual input.
How Does the Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion Work?
The Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion is an example of a concave-convex illusion.
The concave-convex illusion like the Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion works by exploiting the brain’s ability to interpret ambiguous visual cues and fill in missing information to perceive a stable and coherent image. Our brains are constantly processing visual information and making assumptions based on previous experiences and knowledge of the world. Here’s how the illusion works:
Ambiguous visual cues: The concave-convex illusion typically involves an image or figure with alternating regions of shading or contrast. These shading cues create an ambiguity in the perception of the figure, as they could be interpreted in different ways, either as concave (curving inward) or convex (curving outward) regions.
Top-down processing: When we view an ambiguous figure, our brain relies on top-down processing, which means it uses prior knowledge and expectations to interpret the sensory input. Our brain attempts to find the most plausible and familiar interpretation of the figure based on our past experiences with similar shapes and objects.
Context and prior knowledge: The brain takes into account the context of the figure and any relevant prior knowledge about common objects or shapes. For example, if we see a drawing with shading cues that resemble the features of a familiar concave object, like a bowl, we are more likely to interpret it as concave. Conversely, if the shading cues resemble features of a familiar convex object, like a hill or mound, we are more likely to interpret it as convex.
Perceptual bias: Once the brain settles on a particular interpretation of the figure as either concave or convex, a perceptual bias is established. This bias influences our perception of the figure and makes it difficult to see the alternative interpretation, even if we consciously try to switch between the two.
Reversible perception: Due to the ambiguity of the figure and the influence of perceptual bias, viewers can experience the illusion as a reversible image. By changing their focus or attention, they can switch between perceiving the figure as concave or convex.
The Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion demonstrates how our brain’s interpretation of visual information is a complex process that depends on a combination of sensory input, prior knowledge, context, and perceptual biases. The illusion showcases the brain’s remarkable ability to interpret and make sense of the world, even when faced with ambiguous or conflicting visual cues.
Some Similar Illusions
The Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion is an example of a concave-convex illusion.
There are several other illusions that share similarities with the Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion, as they also involve ambiguous figures or visual cues that can be interpreted in different ways. Here are some similar illusions:
Rubin’s Vase: In this illusion, an ambiguous figure is presented that can be perceived either as a vase or as two faces in profile. The brain tends to switch between these two interpretations, highlighting the reversible nature of the illusion.
The Duck-Rabbit Illusion: This illusion features an image that can be seen either as a duck facing one way or a rabbit facing the other way. The brain can flip between these two interpretations, demonstrating the ambiguity of the figure.
Schröder Staircase: This illusion involves a 2D drawing of a staircase that can be perceived as ascending or descending depending on the orientation of the figure. When the figure is flipped, the perceived direction of the staircase changes.
The Spinning Dancer: This animation depicts a female dancer spinning on one foot. However, due to the ambiguous shading and posture, viewers can perceive the dancer as spinning either clockwise or counterclockwise, and the perception can switch back and forth.
The Penrose Triangle (Impossible Triangle): This is an impossible figure that appears as a 3D triangle but cannot physically exist in reality. The brain struggles to reconcile the conflicting information and may perceive the figure in various ways.
The Blivet (Devil’s Fork): This illusion presents an impossible 2D figure that looks like a three-pronged fork from one perspective and a two-pronged fork from another. The brain’s attempt to interpret the conflicting information creates an impossible figure.
The Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion: In this illusion, a set of circular cylinders is presented in 3D, but when viewed from a specific angle, they appear to transform into a completely different set of cylinders with a different orientation.
These illusions, like the Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion, challenge our brain’s interpretation of visual cues and demonstrate the complexities of perception. They showcase how our brain can switch between different interpretations based on the visual input and the context, revealing the flexibility and adaptability of our visual system.
References and Resources – Pyramid or Hollow Column Illusion
In this Diamonds or Squares Illusion, at first glance, most people will quickly see diamonds that pop off the page. But, if you look closer, you will see that there isn’t a line making those diamonds. Because of the contrast between the black and white lines, your brain just assumes the lines making the diamonds exists.
This is a Gestalt grouping illusion, much like the Kanizsa Triangle, which works by taking advantage of the way our brains process and organize visual information. Our brains have a natural tendency to group similar or related elements together, and to perceive patterns and structures even when they are not explicitly present in the visual stimulus.
If you are interested in learning more about how this Diamonds or Squares Illusion, scroll down to read more about it.
The Diamonds or Squares Illusion is an illusion created by Gestalt grouping principles. Gestalt grouping principles are a set of rules that our brains use to organize visual information into meaningful patterns and structures. There are several visual illusions that take advantage of these principles to create striking and often surprising effects.
Overall, gestalt grouping principles play a fundamental role in how our brains process visual information, and there are many illusions that take advantage of these principles to create fascinating and often counterintuitive effects.
How does the Diamonds or Squares Illusion Work?
The Diamonds or Squares Illusion works like other gestalt grouping illusions which work by taking advantage of the way our brains process and organize visual information. Our brains have a natural tendency to group similar or related elements together, and to perceive patterns and structures even when they are not explicitly present in the visual stimulus.
There are several principles of Gestalt psychology that describe how this process works:
Proximity: Objects that are close together tend to be perceived as a group.
Similarity: Objects that are similar in shape, color, or texture tend to be perceived as belonging together.
Closure: Our brains tend to fill in missing information to create a complete shape or structure.
Continuity: Our brains tend to perceive continuous patterns or lines, even if they are interrupted or obscured.
Figure-Ground: Our brains tend to separate the visual field into a foreground object and a background object.
Visual illusions that use Gestalt grouping principles take advantage of these tendencies to create ambiguous or conflicting stimuli that can be interpreted in multiple ways. For example, the famous Rubin’s vase illusion can be perceived as either a vase or two faces, depending on whether you perceive the black or white elements as the foreground object.
Other Gestalt grouping illusions, such as the Kanizsa Triangle, use the principle of closure to create the perception of a complete shape or structure, even when the actual stimulus is incomplete or fragmented.
Overall, Gestalt grouping illusions are a fascinating demonstration of the power and flexibility of our visual system. They show how our brains use fundamental principles of organization and pattern recognition to create a coherent and meaningful perception of the world around us.
Some Similar Illusions
The following are some other gestalt grouping illusions like the Diamonds or Squares Illusion. These all use gestalt grouping principles which are a set of rules that our brains use to organize visual information into meaningful patterns and structures. There are several visual illusions that take advantage of these principles to create striking and often surprising effects. Here are some examples of gestalt grouping illusions:
Figure-ground reversal: In this type of illusion, the foreground and background of an image can be perceived in different ways, depending on how the brain groups the visual elements. For example, the famous Rubin’s vase illusion shows a vase or two faces, depending on how you perceive the figure and ground.
Similarity grouping: This principle states that objects that are similar in shape, color, or texture tend to be perceived as belonging together. One example of an illusion that uses this principle is the “illusory contours” illusion, where the brain perceives contours and shapes that are not actually present in the image.
Proximity grouping: This principle states that objects that are close to each other tend to be perceived as a group. One example of an illusion that uses this principle is the “Kanizsa Triangle” illusion, where three pac-man shapes arranged in a triangle with the “mouths” facing inwards are perceived as a white triangle in the center.
Closure grouping: This principle states that the brain tends to fill in missing information to create a complete shape or structure. One example of an illusion that uses this principle is the “Café Wall” illusion, where a pattern of black and white tiles appears to be tilted or wavy, even though the tiles are all straight and parallel.
Continuity grouping: This principle states that the brain tends to perceive continuous patterns or lines, even if they are interrupted or obscured. One example of an illusion that uses this principle is the “Zöllner Illusion“, where parallel lines appear to be tilted and distorted by oblique lines.
Overall, gestalt grouping principles play a fundamental role in how our brains process visual information, and there are many illusions that take advantage of these principles to create fascinating and often counterintuitive effects.
Discovery of the Diamonds or Squares Illusion
The Diamonds or Squares Illusion works because of Gestalt grouping principles.
Gestalt psychology, which is the basis for understanding Gestalt grouping principles, was developed in the early 20th century by a group of German psychologists, including Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka.
Max Wertheimer is often credited with the discovery of Gestalt psychology and the principles of perceptual organization that underlie Gestalt grouping illusions. In 1912, Wertheimer conducted a series of experiments on apparent motion, which involved presenting a sequence of flashing lights that gave the impression of movement. Wertheimer’s research suggested that the perception of motion was not simply a matter of combining static visual elements, but was instead an emergent property of the overall pattern of stimulation.
This idea led to the development of Gestalt psychology and the principles of perceptual organization, which were further elaborated by Köhler and Koffka. The principles of Gestalt psychology have been widely applied in fields such as art, design, and advertising, as well as in neuroscience and cognitive psychology.
Op Art, short for Optical Art, is a style of art that emerged in the 1960s and is characterized by the use of optical illusions, geometric shapes, and bright colors to create the impression of movement, depth, and visual vibration.
If you are interested in learning more about Optical Art Illusions and seeing some more examples, scroll down to read more about it.
Optical Art, short for Optical Art, is a style of art that emerged in the 1960s and is characterized by the use of optical illusions, geometric shapes, and bright colors to create the impression of movement, depth, and visual vibration.
Optical Art often employs simple geometric shapes such as squares, circles, and lines, arranged in patterns or sequences that create a sense of movement or distortion. The art form relies on the viewer’s perception and the way that the human brain processes visual information, often resulting in images that appear to be pulsing, vibrating, or even moving.
Optical Art is heavily influenced by the scientific and technological developments of the time, such as advances in color television, photography, and printing techniques, which allowed artists to experiment with new forms of optical illusions and visual effects.
The style was popularized by artists such as Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely, and Yaacov Agam, among others, and has had a significant influence on contemporary art, design, and popular culture. Today, Op Art continues to be a popular style among artists who are interested in exploring the intersection of art and perception.
How do Optical Art Illusions Work?
Optical Art works by exploiting the way the human brain processes visual information. The style relies on optical illusions, such as the Moiré effect, in which the viewer perceives patterns or lines that are not actually present, or the illusion of movement, in which a static image appears to be in motion.
Optical Art often employs simple geometric shapes such as squares, circles, or lines, arranged in patterns or sequences that create a sense of movement or distortion. These patterns and sequences are designed to activate the viewer’s visual cortex, which is responsible for processing visual information and making sense of what we see.
When we view an Optical Art piece, our brain tries to interpret the patterns and shapes it is seeing, leading to various perceptual effects such as the impression of movement, depth, and visual vibration. These effects are created by the contrast between the different colors or shades used in the artwork, as well as the way the shapes and patterns are arranged.
Op Art works because our visual system is constantly trying to make sense of the information it receives, and the style exploits the way our brains process visual information to create images that are visually engaging and dynamic.
Some Examples of Optical Art Illusions
Optical Art is a style of art that emerged in the 1960s, characterized by the use of geometric shapes, bright colors, and optical illusions to create the impression of movement and depth. Here are some examples of Op Art:
Bridget Riley’s “Movement in Squares”: This painting, created in 1961, features a series of black and white squares arranged in a grid that creates the impression of movement and depth.
Bridget Riley’s “Movement in Squares”
Victor Vasarely’s “Zebra”: This painting, created in 1937, features a series of black and white stripes arranged in a way that creates a sense of vibration and optical illusion.
Victor Vasarely “Zebra”
Jesus Rafael Soto’s “Penetrable”: This sculpture, created in 1967, features a series of hanging wires that create an immersive, three-dimensional environment in which viewers can move and interact.
Jesus Rafael Soto’s “Penetrable”
Yaacov Agam’s “Double Metamorphosis II”: This sculpture, created in 1964, features a series of rotating panels that create a sense of movement and change depending on the viewer’s perspective.
Yaacov Agam’s “Double Metamorphosis III”:
These are just a few examples of Op Art, which continues to be a popular style among artists and designers who are interested in exploring the intersection of art and perception.
Discovery of Optical Art Illusions
The Optical Art movement emerged in the mid-1960s, and it is difficult to attribute its creation to a single artist or individual. The style was influenced by a variety of artistic and scientific movements of the time, including Abstract Expressionism, Kinetic Art, and the study of color and perception.
Some of the earliest and most influential Op Art artists include Victor Vasarely, Bridget Riley, and Jesús Rafael Soto. Vasarely, who is often credited with coining the term “Op Art,” began creating geometric abstract art in the 1930s and is considered one of the pioneers of the style. Riley, who emerged in the 1960s, is known for her black-and-white paintings that create optical illusions of movement and depth. Soto, who was also active in the 1960s, created sculptures and installations that engage the viewer in an immersive, three-dimensional environment.
Overall, Optical Art was a movement that emerged out of a broader cultural and artistic context, and many artists contributed to its development and popularity in the 1960s and beyond.
Optical floor illusions leverage forced perspective which is an optical illusion that makes objects appear larger, smaller, closer, or farther away than they really are. This is achieved by manipulating the perception of depth and distance by changing the relative size and distance of objects in a scene. The technique is often used in photography and filmmaking, as well as in stage design and architecture.
For example, a common use of forced perspective is to make a small object appear much larger in a photograph or movie. This is done by placing the small object close to the camera and the larger objects farther away. By adjusting the angles and distances between the objects, the illusion is created that the small object is actually much larger than it really is.
Another example is the use of forced perspective in theme park rides, such as Disney’s “Tower of Terror”. The ride uses a combination of props and lighting to make the elevator appear to drop much farther than it actually does, creating a thrilling illusion of a longer freefall.
Overall, forced perspective is a powerful tool for creating visual illusions and is used in a wide range of applications to create dramatic and eye-catching effects.
Optical floor illusions also use principles of Anamorphic street art, also known as 3D street art, which is a type of street art that creates the illusion of three-dimensional objects or scenes on a two-dimensional surface, such as a sidewalk or a wall. The art is created by using a technique called anamorphism, which involves distorting the image so that it appears normal when viewed from a certain angle.
The artist typically sketches the image in a distorted form, and then uses precise measurements and angles to create the illusion of depth and dimension. When viewed from a certain angle, the image appears to pop out of the surface and come to life.
Anamorphic street art has become increasingly popular in recent years, with artists creating intricate and realistic scenes that often incorporate elements of the surrounding environment. Some of the most famous examples of anamorphic street art include Julian Beever’s “Pavement Picasso” series, which features incredible chalk drawings that appear to jump off the sidewalk, and Edgar Mueller’s “Ice Age” installation, which depicts a mammoth breaking through the pavement.
Overall, anamorphic street art is a fascinating and visually striking art form that creates the illusion of depth and dimension in unexpected and surprising ways.
Some Similar Illusions
There are several similar illusions to optical floor illusions that create the perception of three-dimensional images or scenes on a two-dimensional surface. Here are a few examples:
Trompe l’oeil: This is a French term that means “deceive the eye.” Trompe l’oeil is an art technique that creates realistic images that trick the viewer into thinking they are seeing three-dimensional objects or scenes on a flat surface. The technique is often used in murals, paintings, and other forms of visual art.
Forced perspective: As I mentioned earlier, forced perspective is a technique that manipulates the viewer’s perception of depth and distance to create the illusion of three-dimensional objects or scenes. This is often used in photography, filmmaking, and stage design.
Anamorphic art installations: In addition to anamorphic street art, there are also installations that use anamorphism to create the illusion of three-dimensional objects or scenes. For example, some artists create sculptures or installations that appear to be distorted from one angle, but reveal a hidden image when viewed from a specific viewpoint.
Overall, these illusions use similar techniques to create the perception of three-dimensional images on a two-dimensional surface, and can be just as impressive and visually striking as anamorphic street art and optical floor illusions.
In this dual axis illusion, the shape that appears to spin horizontally or vertically depending on how you look at it.
How does the Dual Axis Illusion Work?
The dual axis illusion is a type of paradox illusion.
A paradox illusion is a type of visual illusion that presents an image or scenario that appears to be logically impossible or contradictory. These illusions are created by manipulating various visual cues, such as perspective, shape, size, and color, in a way that contradicts our expectations of what we know to be true.
One example of a paradox illusion is the “Penrose Triangle,” which is a two-dimensional drawing that depicts a triangular object with three prongs that appear to connect to each other in a way that defies the laws of geometry. Another example is the “Escherian Stairwell,” which is a video that appears to show people walking up and down a staircase that defies gravity by looping back on itself in an impossible way.
Paradox illusions can be fascinating and entertaining to look at, as they challenge our understanding of reality and our ability to perceive it accurately. They are often used in art and design to create visually striking and thought-provoking images and designs. They have also been used in scientific research to study the mechanisms of visual perception and to gain insights into how the brain processes complex visual information.
Some Similar Illusions
Here are some illusions that are similar to the dual axis illusion.
The Penrose Triangle: This is a two-dimensional drawing that depicts a triangular object with three prongs that appear to connect to each other in a way that defies the laws of geometry. It creates the illusion of a three-dimensional object that can’t actually exist in physical space.
The Impossible Cube: This is a three-dimensional drawing that depicts a cube that appears to have impossible geometry. The sides of the cube seem to be both inside and outside at the same time, creating a paradoxical illusion.
The Escherian Stairwell: This is a video that appears to show people walking up and down a staircase that defies gravity by looping back on itself in an impossible way. This creates the illusion of an endless staircase that never actually gets anywhere.
The Hering Illusion: This is an optical illusion that creates the illusion of parallel lines that appear to be bent or curved. This is caused by the way that the lines are positioned against a background of converging lines.
The Cafe Wall Illusion: This is an optical illusion that creates the illusion of a staggered pattern of black and white tiles that appear to be sloping in opposite directions. In reality, the tiles are perfectly straight and parallel.
These are just a few examples of the many different types of paradox illusions that exist. They are fascinating and entertaining to look at, and can challenge our understanding of reality and our ability to perceive it accurately.
Discovery of the Dual Axis Illusion
The dual-axis illusion was designed by Frank Force.
Frank Force is a software engineer and game developer who is known for creating a wide variety of games, tools, and visual illusions using code. He has a background in computer science and has worked as a professional software engineer for over a decade. Force is particularly known for his work in game development, and has created a number of popular games and game engines using a variety of programming languages and platforms.
In addition to his work in game development, Frank Force has also gained attention for his visual illusions, including the “Dual Axis Illusion” and the “Reverse Spoke Illusion,” which he created using code to generate animations that create optical illusions. His illusions have been widely shared on social media and have been featured in various media outlets.
Overall, Frank Force is a versatile and creative programmer and developer who has made significant contributions to the fields of game development, software engineering, and visual perception.
This is the 16 circles coffer illusion. Can you spot all 16 circles?
Coffers are the panels on recessed ceilings. When most people look at the design below, they see a pattered that looks like a series of coffered panels on a ceiling.
But look closer and you’ll see that this isn’t a bunch of squares or rectangles, it’s really 16 circles on a striped background. Don’t believe it, scroll down to the end to see the 16 circles revealed.
Also, scroll down to learn a bit more about how the 16 circles coffer illusion works.
What are coffers and the 16 Circles Coffer Illusion?
16 Circles Coffer illusion is a visual pattern of circles that creates the illusion of a three-dimensional coffered ceiling. The pattern consists of 16 large circles arranged in a grid pattern on top of a striped surface.
Coffer designs are primary used in ceilings as a way of making a flat ceiling appear as though it is a three-dimensional. A coffered ceiling is a ceiling with recessed panels, often used in grand buildings like palaces and cathedrals.
The coffer illusion is an example of a trompe l’oeil, which is French for “trick of the eye.” Trompe l’oeil techniques are often used in art and architecture to create realistic illusions of depth and dimension, often with the aim of making something appear more grand or impressive. The coffer illusion is a particularly effective example of this technique, as it can create the impression of a grand, expensive ceiling in a space that may not have the actual dimensions or budget to accommodate one.
How does the 16 Circles Coffer Illusion Work?
The 16 Circles Coffer illusion works by taking advantage of the way our brains process visual information. When we look at the pattern of circles, our brains automatically try to interpret them as a three-dimensional pattern of recessed panels.
Our brains interpret this pattern as a series of recessed panels because of a number of visual cues, such as the relative size of the circles, the positioning of the smaller circles in the spaces between the larger ones, and the pattern of intersections between the circles. These cues create the impression of depth and dimension, even though the ceiling is actually flat.
The 16 Circles Coffer illusion is an example of a trompe l’oeil, which is French for “trick of the eye.” Trompe l’oeil techniques are often used in art and architecture to create realistic illusions of depth and dimension.
Some Similar Illusions
There are many other illusions that are similar to the 16 Circles Coffer illusion in that they create the impression of depth and dimension on a two-dimensional surface. Some examples include:
Checker Shadow Illusion: This illusion was created by Edward H. Adelson in 1995. It features a checkerboard pattern with two squares of different shades of gray, but the squares appear to be the same color due to the way our brains process visual information.
Ames Room Illusion: This illusion was first created by American ophthalmologist Adelbert Ames Jr. in 1946. It uses forced perspective to make objects in one corner of a room appear much larger than objects in the opposite corner, creating the illusion of a distorted room.
Penrose Triangle: This is an impossible object, first created by the mathematician Roger Penrose in the 1950s. It is a two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object that appears to be a triangle, but when viewed from certain angles, it is clear that the object cannot exist in three dimensions.
Necker Cube: This illusion was discovered by Swiss crystallographer Louis Albert Necker in 1832. It is a line drawing of a cube that can be seen from two different perspectives, creating the impression that the cube is flipping back and forth between two orientations.
These and other illusions demonstrate the fascinating ways that our brains interpret and process visual information, often leading us to perceive things that are not actually there or to misinterpret what we see.
Discovery-Creation of the 16 Circles Coffer Illusion
The 16 circles illusion was created by Stanford University psychologist and vision scientist Anthony Norcia
Anthony Norcia is a neuroscientist and researcher who is known for his contributions to the field of visual neuroscience. He is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Stanford University and has conducted extensive research on the neural mechanisms that underlie visual perception, including color perception and visual motion processing.
Norcia has also developed innovative methods for studying the brain’s response to visual stimuli, such as the use of non-invasive brain imaging techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). His research has led to a deeper understanding of how the brain processes visual information and how visual perception is affected by neurological disorders and brain injuries.
Norcia’s contributions to the field of visual neuroscience have earned him numerous awards and honors, including a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship and a National Institutes of Health Research Career Development Award.
The original coffer illusion, also known as the ceiling illusion, was first discovered by the Italian architect, artist, and engineer Filippo Brunelleschi in the early 15th century. Brunelleschi was a pioneer of linear perspective, a technique used to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensional space in two-dimensional art. He created the coffer illusion as a way to demonstrate his understanding of perspective and to showcase his architectural designs. The illusion involves painting a series of coffered panels on a flat ceiling, with each panel appearing to recede into the distance as if it were part of a larger, three-dimensional structure. The coffer illusion was a groundbreaking achievement in the history of art and architecture, and it has influenced artists and architects for centuries since its discovery.
Some other examples of impossible shapes are included below.
About Impossible Shapes
Impossible shapes, also known as impossible objects or undecidable figures, are two-dimensional or three-dimensional shapes that cannot exist in the real world due to their paradoxical nature. These shapes appear to be complete and solid objects, but upon closer inspection, they reveal inconsistencies and contradictions.
Some of the most famous examples of impossible shapes include the Penrose triangle, the Penrose stairs, the impossible cube, and the impossible triangle. These shapes are often used in optical illusions and art to create a sense of confusion and visual paradox.
While impossible shapes cannot exist in reality, they have become popular in the world of art and design. They challenge our perception of reality and inspire creativity by encouraging us to think outside the box and imagine the impossible.
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident.
It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.
From Wikimedia Common
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The illusion is a two-dimensional drawing that is designed to create the impression of a triangular structure, but the angles of the lines are inconsistent with the laws of Euclidean geometry, making it impossible to construct in the real world.
The Penrose Triangle Illusion
Some other Similar Illusions to the Impossible Arch
Paradox illusions are a type of optical illusion that involve images that appear to be self-contradictory or impossible. They typically involve the manipulation of visual cues such as size, shape, movement, and depth perception to create an image that appears to be impossible or defies our understanding of the physical world.
In general, these illusions work by exploiting the way the visual system processes information. The brain relies on certain cues, such as perspective, shading, and texture, to infer the 3D structure of an object. When these cues are manipulated in a certain way, the brain can be fooled into perceiving an impossible or self-contradictory image.
Some related illusions include the following:
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.
The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.
The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.
From Wikimedia Commons
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
From Wikimedia Commons
The Monroe-Einstein illusion works by playing with the viewer’s expectations about the relationships between the features of the faces and the viewer’s sense of facial proportions.
Discovery of the Penrose Triangle Illusion
It was first created by the British mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose and his father Lionel Penrose, a psychiatrist and mathematician, in the 1950s.
Sir Roger Penrose is a renowned British mathematical physicist and Nobel laureate. He was born in 1931 and is still active today. He is known for his work in the fields of cosmology, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020, jointly with Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez, for his contributions to the understanding of the properties of black holes.
Penrose’s research has focused on the fundamental nature of space and time and the structure of the universe, he proposed new ways of understanding the Big Bang, black holes, and the nature of the universe itself. He has also been interested in the connection between physics and mathematics, particularly in the area of geometry. Penrose has written several books on these topics, which have been widely read and discussed by both scientists and the general public.
Penrose is also known for his work on the concept of “cosmic censorship” which is a theory that states that the singularities that occur in black holes are always hidden from the outside observer. He also developed new mathematical techniques, such as the Penrose diagram, which are used to describe the behavior of black holes and other singularities. Penrose is considered one of the most influential theoretical physicist of the 20th century and his work has had a significant impact on our understanding of the universe.
The Mona Lisa Illusion is an optical illusion that occurs when viewing an image of a person’s face. It is named after the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa, which is known for its enigmatic smile.
The illusion occurs when a viewer looks directly at the eyes of a person in an image, but perceives the mouth as smiling or frowning. This happens because the viewer’s peripheral vision picks up on the subtle upward or downward turn of the lips, while the eyes remain fixed in the center of the image.
The Mona Lisa illusion is a type of perceptual ambiguity, where the brain has to choose between competing interpretations of the same image. It is a common example of how the brain makes assumptions and fills in missing information based on context and prior knowledge.
The Mona Lisa illusion works because the human visual system processes information in different ways, and different parts of the brain are responsible for interpreting different visual features.
When we look at an image, our eyes focus on a small area in the center of the image, which is called the fovea. The fovea has the highest density of photoreceptor cells, which allow us to see fine details and colors.
However, our peripheral vision, which covers the area surrounding the fovea, is less sensitive to details and colors. Instead, it is better at detecting overall shapes, movements, and contrasts.
In the case of the Mona Lisa illusion, the eyes are drawn to the eyes of the subject in the image, which is the most detailed and complex part of the face. The mouth, on the other hand, is less detailed and less well-defined in the painting.
When we look directly at the eyes, our brain processes the visual information from the fovea, which sees the mouth as a blurry and ambiguous shape. However, our peripheral vision picks up on the subtle shadows and contours around the corners of the mouth, which can be interpreted as a smile or a frown.
Since the brain is constantly trying to make sense of the visual information it receives, it makes assumptions based on context and prior knowledge. In the case of the Mona Lisa, the enigmatic expression of the subject, combined with the ambiguity of the mouth, creates a perceptual puzzle that the brain tries to solve. This results in the Mona Lisa illusion, where different viewers may perceive different emotions in the same painting.
Famous Artists who Also Use Anamorphosis in Their Art
Anamorphosis is a form of optical illusion in which an image appears distorted when viewed from a certain perspective and can only be seen in its proper form when viewed from a specific angle or using a mirror or special lens. The word “anamorphosis” comes from the Greek words “ana,” meaning “again,” and “morphe,” meaning “form.”
Anamorphosis was used extensively in the Renaissance and Baroque periods as a way of creating intriguing and often thought-provoking images. Artists would paint anamorphic images on a flat surface and then place a mirror at a specific angle in order to create the illusion of a three-dimensional image. The technique was also used to create hidden images that could only be seen from specific perspectives.
In recent years, anamorphosis has been used in a variety of modern art forms, including street art and advertising. In these contexts, anamorphic images are often used to create eye-catching and attention-grabbing displays that appear to change shape as the viewer moves around them.
Anamorphosis is a fascinating and versatile technique that demonstrates the interplay between art and science, and highlights the importance of perception and the role that context and perspective play in shaping our interpretation of the world.
Anamorphosis has been used by various artists throughout history, including some of the most famous and influential artists of their time. Here are a few notable artists who have used anamorphosis in their work:
Leonardo da Vinci: Da Vinci was one of the earliest artists to experiment with anamorphosis and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the technique. He used anamorphosis in his sketches and drawings to represent three-dimensional objects on two-dimensional surfaces.
Hans Holbein the Younger: Holbein was a German artist who lived in the 16th century and was known for his portraits, paintings, and drawings. He used anamorphosis in his portraits to create striking and unusual effects, and many of his anamorphic paintings are still regarded as some of the finest examples of the technique.
René Magritte: Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist who was known for his paintings, illustrations, and collages. He used anamorphosis in his paintings to create illusions and to challenge the viewer’s perception of reality.
M. C. Escher: Escher was a Dutch graphic artist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He used anamorphosis in his prints, lithographs, and drawings to create impossible objects and to challenge the viewer’s perception of space and time.
These are just a few of the many artists who have used anamorphosis in their work, and there are many other artists who have also explored this fascinating technique. Overall, anamorphosis is a powerful tool for artists to create striking and unusual effects, to challenge the viewer’s perception, and to demonstrate the interplay between art and science.
Illusions like The Mona Lisa Illusion
The Mona Lisa illusion is a type of visual illusion known as a “perceptual ambiguity” or “ambiguous image” illusion. This means that the image can be interpreted in more than one way, and the brain has to choose between competing interpretations.
In the case of the Mona Lisa, the ambiguity arises because the mouth of the subject is not clearly defined, and the shadows and contours around the corners of the mouth can be interpreted as either a smile or a frown. Different viewers may perceive different emotions in the same painting, depending on their individual interpretation and prior knowledge.
Perceptual ambiguity illusions are fascinating because they demonstrate how the brain makes assumptions and fills in missing information based on context and prior knowledge. They highlight the complex processes that occur in the visual system when we perceive the world around us, and they challenge our assumptions about what is real and what is illusory.
Some similar illusions are as follows:
Trompe-l’œil is a French term that means “trick the eye.”
It refers to a style of art that uses realistic depictions of three-dimensional objects to create the illusion of depth and a life-like appearance.
Trompe-l’œil paintings and murals are often used to create the illusion of an extended space or to make a room appear larger than it actually is.
Trompe-L’œil
“The Ambassadors” is a painting by the German Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger, completed in 1533. The painting depicts two ambassadors, Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve, who were sent by King Francis I of France to the court of Henry VIII of England.
The painting is known for its complex composition and the many visual elements that are incorporated into the design. The two ambassadors are depicted in a room that is filled with rich details, including a carpet, a table with books and instruments, a lute, and a crucifix. The floor is tiled with a detailed geometric pattern, and the walls are covered with shelves of books and other objects.
One of the most striking aspects of “The Ambassadors” is the distorted skull that is placed in the foreground of the image. This skull, which is painted in a striking trompe l’oeil style, has become one of the most famous elements of the painting and has been interpreted in a variety of ways over the years. Some have interpreted the skull as a symbol of death and the transience of life, while others have seen it as a reference to the memento mori tradition in Renaissance art.
The Ambassadors by Holbein
Anamorphosis is a technique in art and optics that involves creating an image that appears distorted or irregular when viewed from one perspective, but appears normal or regular when viewed from another perspective or with the use of a specialized tool, such as a mirror or a cylindrical lens.
Anamorphosis
The hollow face illusion is a type of optical illusion where a concave mask appears as if it is a convex object.
When a person views a hollow mask from the front, the features on the surface of the mask appear to be bulging out, even though they are actually recessed.
This illusion is created by the brain’s interpretation of the visual information it receives from the eyes. The brain uses previous experiences and knowledge to make assumptions about the shape and position of objects in a scene, and in the case of the hollow face illusion, these assumptions lead to a misinterpretation of the actual shape of the mask.
Hollow Faced Illusion From Wikimedia Commons
The Thatcher effect is a visual illusion in which it becomes difficult for the brain to perceive the deformities in an upside-down face. The effect was named after Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, who was used as an example in early studies of the phenomenon.
When the face is upright, the brain processes its features holistically, taking into account the spatial relationship between the eyes, nose, mouth, and other facial features. However, when the face is inverted, the brain has to process the features separately, which can make it difficult to detect subtle changes in the features. In other words, the brain has difficulty recognizing that the features are upside down, and as a result, it fails to detect abnormalities.
The Thatcher effect illusion is often used by researchers to study how the brain processes faces and other visual stimuli. It is also used in psychology to study how the brain perceives and interprets visual information, including the processing of emotional expressions.
Thatcher Effect Illusion
Artwork by MC Escher. M.C. Escher is widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, and his works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. Some of his most famous works include:
“Relativity” – A lithograph that depicts a world where gravity and direction are relative and interchangeable.
“Waterfall” – A woodcut print that features a seemingly impossible flow of water that cascades upward and through a gear system before falling back down into a pool.
“Sky and Water I” – A woodcut print that features an intricate pattern of birds and fish that seem to transform into each other.
“Day and Night” – A woodcut print that features a world where the boundary between day and night is fluid and interchangeable.
“Metamorphosis III” – A lithograph that features a series of interlocking shapes that seem to change and transform into one another.
“Hands Drawing Hands” – A lithograph that features a series of hands drawing hands, creating a never-ending cycle of creation.
These works, and many others by Escher, continue to captivate and inspire audiences with their intricate details, playful illusions, and mathematical elegance.
Forced perspective is a technique used in photography, architecture, and other visual arts to manipulate the perception of the size and distance of objects.
It creates the illusion of a larger or smaller object, or of one that is closer or farther away, by carefully controlling the angles, proportions, and placement of objects in the scene.
Forced Perspective
The Ponzo illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a pair of parallel lines, or a horizontal bar, appear to be of different lengths based on the presence of a converging or diverging set of lines, often resembling the converging parallel lines of a road or railway track, placed above and below them.
The Ponzo Illusion
The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion is similar to the Delboeuf illusion but in this case the central circle appears larger when surrounded by smaller circles and smaller when surrounded by larger circles.
The Delboeuf illusion is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles.
The Occlusion illusion is a visual illusion where an object that is partially obscured by another object appears to be farther away than it actually is. This illusion is caused by the brain’s interpretation of the relative depth of the objects based on their relative size and position. This phenomenon is based on the visual cues that the brain uses to perceive depth, such as relative size, position, and overlap.
The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.
The moon illusions involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.
The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.
Creation of The Mona Lisa Illusion
The Mona Lisa is a portrait painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is also known as La Gioconda or La Joconde in French. The painting is widely considered one of the most famous and enigmatic works of art in the world.
The painting depicts a woman, believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant, sitting in front of a rocky landscape with a winding road and a bridge over a river in the background. She is shown with her hands folded in her lap and looking directly out at the viewer with a faint smile on her lips. Her gaze is intense and enigmatic, and the painting has been the subject of much speculation and interpretation over the centuries.
Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503, and it is believed to have taken him several years to complete. The painting is an oil on poplar wood panel and measures 77 x 53 cm (30 x 21 inches).
Leonardo was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his use of sfumato, a technique of blending colors and tones to create soft, hazy edges and a sense of depth and atmosphere. He also used a technique called chiaroscuro, which uses contrasts of light and dark to create a three-dimensional effect.
The Mona Lisa was not widely known or appreciated during Leonardo’s lifetime, but it gained popularity in the 19th century and has since become one of the most famous and iconic paintings in the world. It is now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where it is viewed by millions of visitors each year.
Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian artist, scientist, inventor, and polymath who lived during the Renaissance period. He was born on April 15, 1452, in the town of Vinci, near Florence, Italy, and died on May 2, 1519, in Amboise, France.
Leonardo is widely considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of art and science. He was a master of many different disciplines, including painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, anatomy, mathematics, and astronomy.
As an artist, Leonardo is known for his meticulous attention to detail, his use of light and shadow, and his ability to capture the complexity and subtlety of human emotions. His most famous works include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, both of which are considered masterpieces of Renaissance art.
In addition to his artistic achievements, Leonardo also made important contributions to science and technology. He conducted pioneering studies of human anatomy, designed flying machines and submarines, and made advances in the fields of optics, mechanics, and hydrodynamics.
Leonardo’s work continues to inspire and influence artists and scientists to this day, and he remains one of the most celebrated and revered figures in human history.
The Thatcher effect is a visual illusion in which it becomes difficult for the brain to perceive the deformities in an upside-down face. The effect was named after Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, who was used as an example in early studies of the phenomenon.
When the face is upright, the brain processes its features holistically, taking into account the spatial relationship between the eyes, nose, mouth, and other facial features. However, when the face is inverted, the brain has to process the features separately, which can make it difficult to detect subtle changes in the features. In other words, the brain has difficulty recognizing that the features are upside down, and as a result, it fails to detect abnormalities.
The Thatcher effect illusion is often used by researchers to study how the brain processes faces and other visual stimuli. It is also used in psychology to study how the brain perceives and interprets visual information, including the processing of emotional expressions.
The Thatcher effect works by exploiting the way our brains process faces. When we see an upright face, our brain processes its features holistically, taking into account the spatial relationship between the eyes, nose, mouth, and other facial features. This allows us to quickly recognize and distinguish between different faces.
However, when the face is inverted, the brain has to process the features separately. This makes it more difficult for the brain to detect subtle changes in the features. The Thatcher effect takes advantage of this by presenting an upside-down face with distorted features, such as an inverted mouth or eyes. When the face is turned right-side up, the brain has difficulty detecting the distorted features and may even perceive the face as normal.
The Thatcher effect is thought to occur because our brains have evolved to process upright faces quickly and efficiently. This processing is largely unconscious, meaning we are not aware of the individual steps involved. However, when a face is presented upside down, the brain has to work harder to process the features separately, and this can lead to perceptual errors.
Overall, the Thatcher effect is an example of how our brains make assumptions and shortcuts to quickly process visual information, and how these assumptions can be exploited to create visual illusions.
Versions of the Thatcher Effect Illusion
The following is the original version of the Thatcher Effect Illusion
Thatcher September 1983
Illusions like the Thatcher Effect Illusion
The Thatcher effect is a visual illusion that affects our perception of faces. Specifically, it is a type of face recognition illusion. Face recognition illusions occur when our brain’s normal process of recognizing faces is disrupted in some way, leading to errors or distortions in our perception of faces.
In the case of the Thatcher effect, the illusion occurs because the brain has difficulty processing distorted facial features when the face is presented upside down. This can lead to the perception that the face is normal, even though certain features are distorted.
The Thatcher effect is an example of how our brains can make assumptions and shortcuts when processing visual information, which can lead to perceptual errors and illusions. Understanding how illusions like the Thatcher effect work can provide insight into how our brains process visual information, and can help us develop a deeper understanding of perception and cognition.
Some related illusions include the following:
The hollow face illusion is a type of optical illusion where a concave mask appears as if it is a convex object.
When a person views a hollow mask from the front, the features on the surface of the mask appear to be bulging out, even though they are actually recessed.
This illusion is created by the brain’s interpretation of the visual information it receives from the eyes. The brain uses previous experiences and knowledge to make assumptions about the shape and position of objects in a scene, and in the case of the hollow face illusion, these assumptions lead to a misinterpretation of the actual shape of the mask.
Multistable perception refers to the phenomenon in which an ambiguous stimulus can be perceived in multiple, equally valid ways, and one’s perception of the stimulus can switch spontaneously or be influenced by various factors. This is also known as perceptual rivalry, as the brain seems to alternate between different possible interpretations of the stimulus.
One classic example of multistable perception is the Necker Cube, which is a wireframe cube that can be perceived as facing in one of two possible orientations, even though the physical stimulus remains the same. Another example is the Rubin vase, which can be perceived as either a vase or as two faces in profile, depending on which part of the image is given more weight by the brain.
Multistable perception is often studied in the field of psychology and neuroscience, as it can provide insights into the workings of the brain’s visual processing systems and the mechanisms of attention and perception.
Multistable Perception
Penrose figures are impossible objects that were first described by the mathematician and philosopher Roger Penrose in the 1950s.
They are optical illusions that depict objects that appear to violate the laws of three-dimensional geometry. Penrose figures are typically drawn or represented as two-dimensional images, but they create the illusion of a three-dimensional object that cannot actually exist in the real world.
Some common examples of Penrose figures include the Penrose triangle, which appears to have vertices that join in impossible ways, and the Penrose stair, which appears to be a staircase that goes on forever, with the steps constantly descending and yet never reaching the bottom.
These figures challenge our perception of the world and have been used in art, architecture, and psychology to study the workings of the human mind and the limits of human perception.
Penrose Shapes
The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a visual illusion in the form of an impossible object created by the mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.
The illusion is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.
It is often used as an example of the type of optical illusion that can occur in the human brain and is used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention.
The Penrose Staircase Illusion
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
The Shepard elephant illusion is an optical illusion that was created by the artist David H. Shepard. The illusion is a black-and-white line drawing of an elephant that appears to be three-dimensional and in motion, despite being a flat, static image.
The illusion is created by using a technique called “anamorphosis,” which involves distorting an image in a specific way so that when it is viewed from a certain angle or perspective, it appears to be in a different form or shape.
Discovery of The Thatcher Effect Illusion
The Thatcher effect was first described and studied by two psychologists, Peter Thompson and Robert Thornton, in 1980. They conducted a series of experiments to investigate how the brain processes faces, and discovered the effect while studying the processing of facial expressions. They named the effect after Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, who was used as an example in their initial studies.
The Thatcher effect has since become a well-known example of a face recognition illusion and has been studied extensively by cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists. The effect has also been used in popular culture, appearing in TV shows, movies, and advertising campaigns as a way to create visual illusions and draw attention to the intricacies of the brain’s visual processing system.
Multistable perception refers to the phenomenon in which an ambiguous stimulus can be perceived in multiple, equally valid ways, and one’s perception of the stimulus can switch spontaneously or be influenced by various factors. This is also known as perceptual rivalry, as the brain seems to alternate between different possible interpretations of the stimulus.
One classic example of multistable perception is the Necker Cube, which is a wireframe cube that can be perceived as facing in one of two possible orientations, even though the physical stimulus remains the same. Another example is the Rubin vase, which can be perceived as either a vase or as two faces in profile, depending on which part of the image is given more weight by the brain.
Multistable perception is often studied in the field of psychology and neuroscience, as it can provide insights into the workings of the brain’s visual processing systems and the mechanisms of attention and perception.
Multistable perception occurs when the brain is presented with an ambiguous or conflicting stimulus that can be interpreted in different ways. The brain’s visual processing systems are constantly trying to make sense of the incoming sensory information and generate a coherent perception of the world, but when there are multiple possible interpretations of the stimulus, the brain can become stuck in a state of ambiguity.
This ambiguity is thought to arise from competition between different neural populations that represent the possible interpretations of the stimulus. Each interpretation may be represented by a network of neurons that are mutually inhibitory, meaning that the activity of one population suppresses the activity of the others. When the stimulus is ambiguous, the activity of these populations can fluctuate, leading to spontaneous switches between the different interpretations of the stimulus.
In addition to these spontaneous fluctuations, multistable perception can also be influenced by various factors such as attention, context, and expectation. For example, if someone is asked to focus their attention on one particular aspect of the stimulus, this may bias their perception towards one interpretation over another.
Overall, multistable perception is a complex phenomenon that involves competition between different neural populations and can be influenced by various top-down and bottom-up factors. Its study can provide valuable insights into the workings of the brain’s visual processing systems and the mechanisms of attention and perception.
Versions of the Multistable Perception
The following are some alternate versions of Multistable Perception:
Illusions like Multistable Perception
There are many examples of multistable perception, some of which include:
Necker Cube: A wireframe cube that can be perceived as facing in one of two possible orientations, even though the physical stimulus remains the same.
Rubin’s vase: An image that can be perceived as either a vase or as two faces in profile, depending on which part of the image is given more weight by the brain.
Bistable motion: A moving stimulus that can be perceived as either moving back and forth or rotating clockwise and counterclockwise.
The spinning dancer: An image of a spinning dancer that can be perceived as spinning in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
Reversible figures: Figures that can be perceived in two different orientations, such as the duck-rabbit or the old-young woman.
The hollow mask illusion: A mask that appears to be concave even though it is physically convex, due to the brain’s interpretation of shading and depth cues.
These examples demonstrate how the brain can generate multiple, equally valid interpretations of an ambiguous stimulus, and how these interpretations can switch spontaneously or be influenced by various factors.
Some related illusions include the following:
Penrose figures are impossible objects that were first described by the mathematician and philosopher Roger Penrose in the 1950s.
They are optical illusions that depict objects that appear to violate the laws of three-dimensional geometry. Penrose figures are typically drawn or represented as two-dimensional images, but they create the illusion of a three-dimensional object that cannot actually exist in the real world.
Some common examples of Penrose figures include the Penrose triangle, which appears to have vertices that join in impossible ways, and the Penrose stair, which appears to be a staircase that goes on forever, with the steps constantly descending and yet never reaching the bottom.
These figures challenge our perception of the world and have been used in art, architecture, and psychology to study the workings of the human mind and the limits of human perception.
Penrose Shapes
The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a visual illusion in the form of an impossible object created by the mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.
The illusion is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.
It is often used as an example of the type of optical illusion that can occur in the human brain and is used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention.
The Penrose Staircase Illusion
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.
The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.
The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.
From Wikimedia Commons
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.
From Wikimedia Commons
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
The Shepard elephant illusion is an optical illusion that was created by the artist David H. Shepard. The illusion is a black-and-white line drawing of an elephant that appears to be three-dimensional and in motion, despite being a flat, static image.
The illusion is created by using a technique called “anamorphosis,” which involves distorting an image in a specific way so that when it is viewed from a certain angle or perspective, it appears to be in a different form or shape.
Discovery of Multistable Perception
The phenomenon of multistable perception has been observed and studied by many researchers over the years, and it is not typically attributed to a single individual or discovery.
However, one early researcher who is often credited with pioneering the study of multistable perception is the Dutch psychologist Adriaan de Groot. In the 1940s, de Groot conducted a series of experiments on ambiguous figures, including the Necker Cube, and described how these figures could be perceived in multiple, equally valid ways. He also proposed a model for how the brain processes these ambiguous stimuli, which involved competition between different neural representations.
Other researchers who have contributed to the study of multistable perception include the American psychologist Roger Shepard, who introduced the concept of “perceptual switching” in the 1950s, and the British psychologist Colin Blakemore, who studied the neural mechanisms underlying bistable perception in the 1970s.
Overall, multistable perception is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that has been studied by many researchers across different fields of psychology and neuroscience.
Adriaan de Groot and Multistable Perception
Adriaan de Groot (1914-2006) was a Dutch psychologist who is known for his contributions to the study of cognitive psychology, particularly in the area of human problem-solving and perception.
De Groot received his PhD in psychology from the University of Amsterdam in 1946, and went on to become a professor of psychology at the same university. He conducted influential research on topics such as chess expertise, problem-solving strategies, and perception, and was a pioneer in the use of think-aloud protocols to study cognitive processes.
One of de Groot’s most famous contributions to psychology was his study of chess expertise. In the 1960s, he conducted a series of experiments in which he asked expert and novice chess players to think aloud while they solved chess problems. He found that expert players were able to recognize and remember chess patterns more quickly and accurately than novices, and that their superior performance was due in part to their ability to chunk information into meaningful units.
De Groot also conducted influential research on perception, including his work on ambiguous figures such as the Necker Cube. He proposed a model of perception that involved competition between different neural representations of a stimulus, which could lead to multistable perception and perceptual switching.
Overall, de Groot was a pioneering figure in the field of cognitive psychology, and his work has had a lasting impact on our understanding of human cognition and perception.
The Penroses and Multistable Perception
One of the more famous Multistable Perception illusions, the Penrose stairs, was first created by the British mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose and his father Lionel Penrose, a psychiatrist and mathematician, in the 1950s.
Sir Roger Penrose is a renowned British mathematical physicist and Nobel laureate. He was born in 1931 and is still active today. He is known for his work in the fields of cosmology, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020, jointly with Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez, for his contributions to the understanding of the properties of black holes.
Penrose’s research has focused on the fundamental nature of space and time and the structure of the universe, he proposed new ways of understanding the Big Bang, black holes, and the nature of the universe itself. He has also been interested in the connection between physics and mathematics, particularly in the area of geometry. Penrose has written several books on these topics, which have been widely read and discussed by both scientists and the general public.
Penrose is also known for his work on the concept of “cosmic censorship” which is a theory that states that the singularities that occur in black holes are always hidden from the outside observer. He also developed new mathematical techniques, such as the Penrose diagram, which are used to describe the behavior of black holes and other singularities. Penrose is considered one of the most influential theoretical physicist of the 20th century and his work has had a significant impact on our understanding of the universe.
