Optical illusions also called as visual illusions are basically characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. If we explain it in simple terms then it means that whatever our eyes see it imparts all that to the brain and we get a different kind of perception that does not relate with the physical measurements and dimensions of the object in reality. But the question here arises that how it actually happens. Is it the magic behind the optical illusion or science behind it? Then the answer is that there is science behind this magic of objects.

We can call optical illusions a kind of mistaken judgment. Any error caused in the estimation of dimensions or distance causes the optical illusions. Since different colors absorb different amounts of light and this affects the observation of different colored objects by the eyes, leading to optical illusions. It is normal for any human to get trapped in the optical illusions.

There are various types of optical illusions. Let us discuss them in science perspective.

  • Physiological Illusions are those illusions that effects on the eyes and brain because of excessive stimulation of brightness, light, color or movements. Such as images after following the bright light adapt stimuli of long patterns and are the cause of Physiological illusions.
  • Cognitive illusions are those which lead to unconscious inferences between eyes and brain. Our brain makes sense of shapes and symbols putting them together like a jigsaw puzzle and makes us believe that there is something but which is not in reality.
  • Another is depth and motion perception is a kind of illusion in which the observer can see the 3 Dimensional even though the image falling on our retina is in 2 Dimension only. Motion illusions are responsible for sensory illusions. In this the brain perceives a series of slightly different images produced in quick succession as a moving picture.
  • Color or brightness constancies are responsible for the fact that a familiar object will appear of the same color regardless of the amount of or color of light reflecting from it.

But how optical illusions actually work?
Illusions often result due to mistaken judgments or erroneous vision. Here in optical illusions a bright object often appears larger than a dark object of same dimensions. When objects of different colors are placed close to each other, a certain color may be mistaken to be another. This is an error in sensing the object. We know that human brain always tends to group things in four types namely similarity, continuity, closure and proximity and our brain is always in search of patterns. So our brain tries to find some kind of continuity in whatever our eyes see. Mirage is a very well known example in which light deceives our eyes.

Thus there are various optical illusions we can see daily and which have a misleading effect on our brain.