Poggendorff illusion

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Poggendorff illusion

Poggendorff illusion. The two red lines crossing the blue bar are colinear. Many people see them as being offset. There are still no satisfactory explanations as to why this should be the case. One theory, borne out by experimental evidence and with a neurological basis, is that the brain has a conflict between the two edges - the edge of the rectangle and the line. Lateral inhibitors in the eye diminish both lines when they are viewed close together, causing the brain to consistently overestimate acute angles

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Media ID 6440473

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Acute Ambiguous Angle Distortion Illusory Neuroscience Optical Illusion Panoramic Perception Psychology Trick Trickery Vision Vision Visual Visual Trick

EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the intriguing Poggendorff illusion, a visual trick that challenges our perception of angles and lines. In this image, we see two red lines intersecting a blue bar, appearing to be offset despite being perfectly aligned. The mystery lies in why our brains consistently overestimate acute angles when confronted with this optical illusion. Scientists have proposed various theories to explain this phenomenon, but none have provided a fully satisfactory explanation yet. One prevailing idea suggests that there is a conflict between the edges of the rectangle and the line within our brain. When viewed closely together, lateral inhibitors in our eyes diminish both lines, leading to an exaggerated estimation of acute angles. The Poggendorff illusion exemplifies how easily our vision can be deceived by ambiguous stimuli. It serves as a reminder that what we perceive may not always reflect reality accurately. This fascinating interplay between psychology and neuroscience highlights the complexity of human perception. As we delve into the world of optical illusions like this one, it becomes clear how intricate and enigmatic our visual system truly is. Through scientific exploration and continued research in fields such as neuroscience, we hope to unravel more secrets behind these illusory tricks that challenge our understanding of vision itself.

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