I’m working on a social work question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

The readings on Sensation and Perception detail how sensory information is processed and ultimately reaches the cortex. It is at that level that we consciously experience the world. Vision is particularly interesting because the receptor cells of the retina form just a single layer. That means the retinal image is essentially two-dimensional. We learn to use both monocular and binocular cues for depth resulting in our conscious perception of the three-dimensional world around us. Artists tap into those same devices to convey a sense of three-dimensionality in paintings. Visual illusions push the limits to extremes or otherwise trick the visual system. Studying them has aided our understanding of how the visual system normally processes the incoming information. And much of that processing is partly due to our prior experience with objects in the world. As infants we come to learn that even though the retinal image may change, solid objects don’t change form merely position.

The idea for this discussion is to find some illusion you think is cool. Describe the effect in terms of what is experienced and how the perceptual system processes the information creating that effect. For example, with an ambiguous figure we switch between one interpretation and another because the visual system arranges and rearranges the data. Either interpretation is equally logical and viable, so the brain simply switches back and forth.

It should be noted that besides visual illusions there are also some auditory and tactile illusions out there. Use any that you think are cool.