Whether on a computer screen or a piece of paper optical illusions can be mesmerizing. They are an amazing example of how the brain interprets sensory information to construct the impression of reality.
All of these components are optical illusions. Human visual systems are constantly observing light colors, distance, and dimensions.
What is an optical illusion?
An optical illusion happens in the event that an image confuses eye and brain. In just one tenth of a second, your visual system is able to send hundreds of images to the brain. The brain organizes the information through defining boundaries, analyzing contrast areas, sorting colours and even guessing from past experiences, what it ought to see.
It is possible to get things wrong. The optical illusions don’t represent an issue with the brain or eyes It’s just a conflict between them on what’s visible. Other senses also can experience similar visual illusions. If, for instance, you are bitten by a bug on your arm, it might look like it is going down.
There are three kinds of optical illusions: literal physiological and cognitive. The physiological illusions are images that appear to be moving but are actually still images. They are caused by excessive stimulation of the brain’s senses as they attempt to discern motion from a photograph which isn’t. They can be caused by the Ponzo Illusion where two lines seem to have different lengths.
Optical Illusions in Advertising – brain illusions
You may have seen optical illusions in the museums or in psychology classes or on the walls of your hippie friend. But you’ve probably never thought of using them to promote your business. However, they are extremely effective in grabbing the attention of people and generating a sense of movement or, in some instances, crinkly eyes.
Jane Pain, a popular lingerie company, recently launched an optical illusions campaign featuring women’s bums and busts on their products. If you examine them closely to the image, however, you’ll observe that the parts of your body that aren’t dressed are actually elbows, and knees.
The Kit Kat truck is another interesting optical illusion that can be used in advertisements. It looks like the driver is sitting in hammock instead of a car. This illusion is a fantastic opportunity to grab the attention of consumers and make them want to take breaks with an Kit Kat. It also uses the perceptual set and priming technique to build a positive relationship with the brand.
Artistic Optical Illusions
The MC Escher’s Penrose triangle and his never-ending staircase are well-known examples for optical illusions. Since the Renaissance optical effects were an essential element of art. Artists utilized the camera obscura, as well as linear perspective to make incredible illusions with trompe l’oeil.
Most often, it is geometric in nature. Op art is not representational and utilizes lines, shapes and blocks of color to create the illusion of movements, hidden images, or swelling or warping. The work of Vasarely and his 1965 exhibit The Responsive Eye led to its rise in popularity throughout the 1960s.
Joseph Albers, influenced by the Op Art movement explored the ways in which colors interacted and influenced each other. His Homage to the Square series of works employs colored squares that are layered on top of one another to explore how different hues impact our perceptions of form and depth.
Optical illusions in music
The latest optical illusion doing the rounds is a musical illusion. It involves a file layout of musical notes, which are all identical. When they are played back in tandem on a piano, they provide the illusion of lyrics for a song but in reality there are no lyrics!
These brilliant illusions are an excellent illustration of how your brain processes information from your senses. It uses it to form a perception of the world around you. If this happens naturally, or through design our brains are extraordinarily strong.
Artists like Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely and Jesus Rafael Soto experimented with illusionary effects in their art. Soto went even further, creating immersive installations that blurred the lines between the viewer and the artwork inviting viewers to interact with his art.