Optical Illusions

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 OR 

This is an example of an ambiguous cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 6

Rubin Vase

What is this a picture of?

Faces or vases? This is an example of an ambiguous cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 7

Café Wall Illusion

Are the horizontal lines straight and parallel, or curved?

This is an example of a distorting cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 8

Mueller-Lyer Illusion

Which line is the longest? Shortest?

Hint: Get a ruler… check them out. This is an example of a distorting cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 9

Penrose Triangle

Hey architecture majors, let’s see you make this:

This is an example of a paradox cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 10

Penrose Stairs

I’d love to see someone try to get to the top.

This is an example of a paradox cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 11

Who's That?

Focus on the four dots for 45 seconds, then quickly look at a wall and blink.

This is an example of a physiological optical illusion.

Slide 12

Checker Shadow Illusion

Which square is darker? A or B?

This one blows me away… they’re the same shade! This is an example of a distorting cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 13

Scintillating Grid Illusion

Can you find the black circles?

Hint: There are no black circles  This is an example of a distorting cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 14

Simultaneous Contrast Illusion

In the middle bar, is the left or right side lighter?

Yet again… blows me away. Try covering up the outer gradient and focus on the middle line. This is an example of a distorting cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 15

Rotating Circles

Look at the black dot as you move your head backward and foreward.

Do you notice anything rotating? This is an example of a distorting cognitive optical illusion.

Slide 16

Want More?

The internet is full of websites containing optical illusions. Some even sell books full of them! The examples and definitions that I’ve used can be found at the website listed below. The site also has numerous links to other famous illusions. Enjoy!