visual-illusions

Rectangles or circles? This surprising mind teaser highlights the value of perspective diversity and open conversation

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This sur­pris­ing illu­sion by math­e­mati­cian and artist Kokichi Sug­i­hara, named the 2016 Illu­sion of the Year, high­lights the crit­i­cal impor­tance of per­spec­tive diver­si­ty and open conversation.

Sur­prised? [Read more…] about Rec­tan­gles or cir­cles? This sur­pris­ing mind teas­er high­lights the val­ue of per­spec­tive diver­si­ty and open conversation

Is your brain ready for Monday? Tease your mind with these four optical illusions

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A great way to learn more about our brains and minds is to look at how we can trick them–that is, to see how we react to brain teasers and visu­al illusions.

Below are four fun opti­cal illu­sions that let us learn­ about our visu­al system…ready?

(answers and expla­na­tions at the bottom)

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[Read more…] about Is your brain ready for Mon­day? Tease your mind with these four opti­cal illusions

Test your brain and mind with these nine classic optical Illusions

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Are the two orange cir­cles of the same size? 

One way to learn more about our brains and minds is to look at how we can trick them–that is, to see how we react to brain teasers and visu­al illusions.

The brain has two hemi­spheres, each divid­ed into four lobes. Each lobe is (large­ly) respon­si­ble for dif­fer­ent func­tions. For instance the frontal cor­tex (in yel­low) is respon­si­ble for deci­sion mak­ing and plan­ning; the tem­po­ral lobe (in pur­ple) for lan­guage and mem­o­ry; the pari­etal lobe (in green) for spa­tial skills, and the occip­i­tal lobe (in red) is entire­ly devot­ed to vision: It is thus the place where visu­al illu­sions hap­pen..

Below are 9 opti­cal illu­sions that com­bine fun and learn­ing about our visu­al sys­tem. We know you know there is a trick since these are illu­sions… but don’t try to be smarter than your brain. Enjoy being surprised!

(You’ll find answers and expla­na­tions at the end of the article)

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[Read more…] about Test your brain and mind with these nine clas­sic opti­cal Illusions

Visual illusions to tease our brains and minds

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Café_wall_illusion.svg

Why Opti­cal Illu­sions Like These Make Your Brain Go Hay­wire (Wired):

“Uni­ver­si­ty of Bris­tol researchers dis­cov­ered this illu­sion in the ear­ly 1970s while look­ing at the tiled wall of a café. Hence the name, Café Wall Illu­sion. The gray lines in between the rows of white and black squares seem to con­verge, but they are actu­al­ly par­al­lel. Your brain, over­whelmed by the intense and close­ly-spaced black-and-white con­trasts, sees the gray lines as part of the tile either above or below it. The lines end up appear­ing high­er on alter­nat­ing sides, cre­at­ing the trape­zoidal illusion.”

More visu­al illu­sions and brain teasers:

Update: Four Essential Yet Overlooked Facts About Your Brain

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brainstormingTime for Sharp­Brains’ Decem­ber 2013 e‑newsletter, fea­tur­ing a vari­ety of resources, brain teasers and arti­cles. Enjoy the reading…and Hap­py Holidays!

Fea­tured resources:

Brain teasers:

Research and indus­try news:

Please remem­ber that we are host­ing a num­ber of webchats in Jan­u­ary to dis­cuss your impres­sions and ques­tions about  The Sharp­Brains Guide to Brain Fit­ness: How to Opti­mize Brain Health and Per­for­mance at Any Age (284 pages; 2013), so we hope you can spend some time read­ing the book over the hol­i­days, and per­haps even dis­cuss it with friends and relatives.

We wish you Hap­py Hol­i­days and a Pros­per­ous 2014!