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This web site illustrates a new theory of visual illusions, which I developed. The theory is of a computational nature. It predicts many of the well known geometric optical illusions, illusions of movement in line drawings, as well as illusions of three-dimensional shape.
Certain patterns confuse your eyes and brain, causing you to misjudge the size of a circle, or the length of a line. Though hundreds of optical illusions have been recorded and studied over the last century, people still do not agree on why these patterns cause errors in perception. Scientists are fascinated by illusions because, by figuring out how the eye and brain can be tricked, they can better understand the normal workings of the visual system. As Purkinje, a noted 19th-century Czech physiologist, put it: "Deceptions of the senses are the truths of perception.
If you search the net you will find many sites on optical illusions. And if you search for explanations, you will probably form the opinion that nearly every illusion has a different cause. This is also the dominant view nowadays in the scientific community.
Seeing isn't always believing! Enter the world of optical illusions where your eyes may see things that your brain doesn't understand. Explore how and why you see optical illusions, and discover the many types created over time. Find out how they are a part of art, science, math and our everyday lives. See for yourself how your eyes can fool you by exploring our optical illusion gallery. You may never see things the same again!
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