Optical illusions

Life's origins are often speculated to have emerged from thermal hydrothermal vents, where a remarkable transition from geochemical to biochemical processes occurred. This transformation, in my view, is more awe-inspiring than the concept of the Big Bang itself. The earliest biological entities were initially immobilized in one place, but over millions of years, some living organisms began to exhibit mobility. It's possible that certain bacteria were among the first to move, utilizing structures reminiscent of cilia. Gradually, more complex organisms evolved, and with them, the capacity for locomotion.

Movement is a common trait among animals, serving various purposes such as seeking nourishment, avoiding predators, navigating environmental hazards, and searching for mates, among other objectives.

For us to move- we need to understand the environment. We need to make a mental image of what is ahead, where are we going, what is my next step going to be on, how much is the space for me to move ahead, is it dark or light and so on. If we have a pretty good perception of the environment, we can make better decisions about moving.

The sensory system in humans has evolved in tandem with our ability to move efficiently and respond to environmental dangers. Our perception of the environment is intricately linked to our capacity to navigate and achieve various goals while avoiding potential hazards.

While there are several sensory systems in humans, our primary mode of perception is visual. This does not diminish the importance of other sensory systems; rather, it underscores the significance of our visual capabilities. Unlike animals like dogs or tigers, we don't rely on our sense of smell to detect danger from 10 or 100 feet away. Instead, we rely on our visual system to "see" and perceive potential threats. This emphasis on the visual system highlights its crucial role in our overall perception and understanding of the world around us.

To gain a simple understanding of how we perceive environmental dangers, you can conduct a straightforward experiment. While you are engrossed in your phone, ask someone to position themselves at the edge of your peripheral vision and then instruct them to move their hand. You will likely notice that you can detect the movement of their hand even though your primary focus is on the phone screen. This phenomenon illustrates the remarkable receptiveness and awareness of our peripheral vision, particularly when it comes to detecting motion.

In modern times, this heightened visual perception is indispensable for activities such as riding a bike or crossing a road safely, playing games like football, as it enables us to quickly spot moving objects or potential threats in our peripheral vision, aiding us in making split-second decisions to navigate our surroundings safely.

Why this long rambling?

Well, my little friend who has joined psychology had sent me a perceptual trick photo- the optical illusions

We all have seen hundreds of optical illusions- and i do receive lots of it from my friends via social media. We are all amazed and at the thinking “What the Hell”. And there are some pop psychologist who ask?

Well, i am not interested in those nonsense. If i want to test my personality i will ask check my “virgo” sign essay by Cheiro.

Optical illusions are not merely intriguing curiosities reserved for books and social media; they pervade our daily lives. For instance, a simple rope lying in the corner can momentarily trick our perception, making us see it as a snake. The interplay of light and shadow often leads us to interpret shapes as divine figures or ghosts, depending on which tree the shadow falls upon. And then with faces, we are the worst- i remember in the 80s when the theatres started flooding with “kung fu” movies- we could not differentiate between 2 chinese faces, highlighting how our visual perception can be easily misled in various contexts.

Why are there optical illusions?

The intriguing question arises: Why do our eyes often deceive us? Why do we perceive movement when there is none, or struggle to identify a simple object like a rope correctly? This phenomenon raises doubts about the reliability of eyewitness accounts.

From ancient philosophers like Siddhartha to modern neuroscientists, there is a consistent message: our perception of the world is not as clear-cut as it may seem. It's important to keep in mind that our visual system, while prone to deception, is still highly capable and sufficient for navigating our environment effectively. In essence, we are simultaneously deceived by our eyes and reliant on them to make sense of the world around us.

So i will end with the same question again, why is our visual system unreliable, why are there optical illusion?

With so much of love
Hariohm