Discover the Science of School Yard Illusions
Childhood tricks can reveal a surprising amount about early cognition and the nervous system
Illusions71 articles archived since 1845
How Magicians Trick Your Brain
They hijack its limited ability to deal with perceptual ambiguity
Meet the Animal Masters of Illusion
Humans are not the only species to use visual trickery to their advantage
Aging Brings Big Changes in Visual Perception
Older people can struggle to see certain illusions, offering clues about the aging brain
How Ghostbusting Became a Victorian Pastime
Nineteenth-century entertainment was a peculiar mix of technological innovation and supernatural thinking
Why Salvador Dali Loved Duplicity and Illusion
Haunted by a deceased brother, whom he saw as a twin, the Spanish artist filled his work with double meanings
How "The Dress" Became an Illusion Unlike Any Other
Dozens of labs are investigating the internet phenomenon and developing new explanations
How the Brain Can Be Fooled into Perceiving Movement
These illusions explore how magicians, photographers and performance artists lead us to see motion where none exists
Famous Paintings Can Reveal Visual Disorders
Neural pathologies have shaped great art throughout history
Filling in the _________
Your brain fills in all kinds of visual gaps
Scientists Unveil the Secrets of Visual Attention
Concentration affects how we detect and perceive objects and scenes
How the Color Red Influences Our Behavior
The facts and fictions of crimson perception
These 5 Illusions Turn Ordinary Humans into Superheroes
Superpower your imagination
5 Illusions Reveal How Portraits Can Lie
Portrait photography traverses fact and fancy
Illusions That Play Hide-and-Seek with Perception
Hidden illusions are the Easter eggs of the mind
How 1 Scientist Cracked the Brain's Visual Code
An homage to David Hubel, a Nobel Prize–winning neuroscientist
Visual Neurons Cheat by Focusing on Corners
The brain's resources are limited. By focusing on angles, curves and line endings, your visual neurons can cut corners
Is Pain a Construct of the Mind?
Pain is an emotion
Illusory Scenes Fade into and out of View
Fading illusions play hide-and-seek with your perception
Advertisers Exploit Time Illusions to Sell Products
Marketing illusions that make time fly
