Illusion

Illusion refers to a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people. Illusions may occur with any of the human senses, but visual illusions (optical illusions) are the most well-known and understood.

Types of Illusions

Visual Illusions

Visual illusions or optical illusions are the most common type of illusions. They occur due to the arrangement of images, the effect of colors, the impact of light source or other variables. A common example of a visual illusion is the Mirage.

Auditory Illusions

Auditory illusions are false perceptions of the sense of hearing. Examples include the Shepard tone and Phantom words.

Tactile Illusions

Tactile illusions are illusions that exploit the sense of touch. An example is the Cutaneous rabbit illusion.

Temporal Illusions

Temporal illusions are those that impact the sense of time. The Kappa effect and Chronostasis are examples of temporal illusions.

Causes of Illusions

Illusions are caused by the brain processes that interpret the information from the senses, often involving unconscious inferences.

See Also

• Perception
• Cognitive psychology
• Sensory neuroscience