The occlusion illusion is a perceptual phenomenon in which the presence or absence of an object can affect the perception of another object.
In the image, both half circles are the exact same size, but the one on the left appears larger.
This illusion illustrates how our brains use context and assumptions to interpret visual information, and can demonstrate how our perceptions can be influenced by factors other than the stimuli themselves.
Table of Contents
- How does the Occlusion Illusion work?
- Versions of the Occlusion Illusion
- Illusions like the Occlusion Illusion
- Discovery of the Occlusion Illusion
- References and Resources
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How does the Occlusion Illusion work?
The occlusion illusion works by exploiting the way our brains use context and assumptions to interpret visual information.
The brain uses previous experiences and knowledge to make predictions about what it will see, and then uses those predictions to fill in missing information.
In the case of the occlusion illusion, the brain uses the presence or absence of an occluding object to make predictions about the position or shape of the objects that are being occluded.
These predictions then influence the way the occluded objects are perceived, resulting in an illusion.
In short, the occlusion illusion works by manipulating the way our brains use context and assumptions to interpret visual information, leading to a perception that does not accurately reflect the reality of the stimuli.
Versions of the Occlusion Illusion
The following is an alternate version of the Occlusion Illusion.
Illusions like the Occlusion Illusion
The Occlusion illusion is a type of size-distance illusions, also known as size contrast illusions, which are visual illusions in which the size or distance of an object is perceived differently than it actually is. These illusions are caused by the way the brain processes visual information and the surrounding context.
Some related illusions include:
The Ebbinghaus illusion (also known as Titchener circles) is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a central circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles. The central circle appears smaller when surrounded by larger circles, and larger when surrounded by smaller circles.
The Delboeuf Illusion: This illusion involves the perception of circles of different sizes appearing to be the same size when they are surrounded by other circles of different sizes.
The Zöllner illusion: A another size-contrast illusion in which a group of diagonal lines appear to be distorted or bent due to the presence of intersecting lines. This illusion involves the perception of diagonal lines that appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.
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.
Moon illusion: This illusion involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.
Ponzo illusion: This illusion involves the perception of an object appearing larger or smaller depending on the size of the surrounding context.
The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.
Münsterberg illusion: A special version of the Café Wall Illusion. This illusion involving the perception of the size of an object appearing to change when the surrounding context changes.
The Poggendorff illusion is a visual illusion in which the brain perceives a diagonal line as being interrupted by an object, even though the line is actually continuous.
These illusions show that the brain’s perception of size and distance can be influenced by the surrounding context, and that the visual information the brain receives is not always an accurate representation of reality.
Discovery of the Occlusion Illusion
The concept of occlusion illusion is a general phenomenon that has been observed and studied by many scientists and researchers over time. Therefore, it can be difficult to attribute the discovery of the occlusion illusion to a single individual. The phenomenon of occlusion illusion has been studied in various fields such as psychology, neuroscience, and vision science. The earliest research on occlusion illusion can be traced back to scientists like Hermann von Helmholtz and Charles Wheatstone in the 19th century, who studied the perception of depth and the role of occlusion in it.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.