Each year the Neural Correlate Society selects its favorite visual illusions, with a panel of judges narrowing the field to ten finalists and the three overall winners voted on by members of the society. The top three illusions of 2009 are:
1. The break of the curveball (Shapiro, Lu, Knight, Ennis). Compare the trajectory of the ball when viewed directly versus peripherally:
2. Color dove illusion (Barkan & Spitzer). Select a background color and focus on the black dot within the dove. The background disappears, but the color has a lingering effect:
3. The illusion of sex (Russell). A simple change of contrast alters our perception of the gender of this face:
View the rest of the top 10 list here.
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- Shel Silverstein :: The Giving Tree Movie [1973]
- Emotions on a Map
- Top Five NFL Teams 2009-2010
- Top Five NFL Players 2009-2010 :: Defense
- Top Five NFL Players 2009-2010 :: Offense
In elementary school, when I was a boy, I had a book of illusions. I was so proud to be able to make this one:
(a) < ---->
(b) >—-<
Which line is longer? It doesn’t work so well on a screen, only paper, back then I knew only the world of paper, so it worked every time.
These illusions give new meaning to the phrase “my eyes are playing tricks on me.”