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Scientists Find Believing Can Be Seeing

Ponca City, We Love You writes "Scientists at University College London have found the link between what we expect to see, and what our brain tells us we actually saw revealing that the context surrounding what we see is all important — sometimes overriding the evidence gathered by our eyes and even causing us to imagine things which aren't really there. A vague background context is more influential and helps us to fill in more blanks than a bright, well-defined context. This may explain why we are prone to 'see' imaginary shapes in the shadows when the light is poor. "Illusionists have been alive to this phenomenon for years," said Professor Zhaoping. "When you see them throw a ball into the air, followed by a second ball, and then a third ball which 'magically' disappears, you wonder how they did it. In truth, there's often no third ball — it's just our brain being deceived by the context, telling us that we really did see three balls launched into the air, one after the other." The original research paper is available on PLOS, the open-access, peer-reviewed journal."

8 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Just one more reason to be careful by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I'm driving, I only really notice things that move.

    What are you, a T-Rex? ^_^

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    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

  2. Re:News? by owlnation · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is this actually news?
    Only if you choose to see it that way.
  3. It helps to be a little dumb too... by Shivetya · · Score: 3, Funny

    because this is about the only thing which explains my friend and his girlfriends belief in Ghosthunters and such...

    I always looked at things this article covers along the lines of we make a decision and justify it later, not the reverse.

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    * Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
  4. Obligatory Groucho Marx Quote: by ardle · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?" - Chico Marx dressed up as Groucho in "Duck Soup" (context information serves as anti-pedantry device).

  5. Re:Alcohol amplifies this effect. by framauro13 · · Score: 2, Funny

    While your statement is 100% correct, normally when I'm wearing beer goggles I'm looking for something other than a relationship :)

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    In an effort to conform with internet communication standards, please note that the above comment is 100% biased opinion
  6. Re:Eighteen observers... by Laughing+Pigeon · · Score: 2, Funny

    18 observers is enough? Not that I necessarily disagree with the results they've gathered in this study, but the sample group seems awfully small....

    I think 640 observers would have been more like it...

  7. Perhaps.. by SpacePunk · · Score: 2, Funny

    the scientists are seeing the results they want to see, and not what the results actually are. That would both invalidate, and validate their claims.

  8. Re:News? by vimh42 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Only if you choose to see it that way."

    These are not the droids you are looking for.