Click on the individual modules in the image to zoom in and out.
What's this outreach program all about and why should I care about perception?
Find out what scientists know about "how we see" and how this might reveal how the brain works more generally.
Learn more about how vision and perception relate to the following fields:
- physics
- physiology
- medicine
- psychology
- art
- philosophy
- biology
- mathematics
- computer science
Perception permits a blend of science and personal everyday experience. It is one way to get an appreciation of rigorous scientific thinking in a way that relates closely with the immediate aspects of one's personal experience. This means that occasionally some chance daily occurrence has the possibility of illuminating our deepest understanding of perception and brain function. As such the field is full of interesting surprises.
Practically speaking, if we are ever to build an artificial visual system like the ones seen in science fiction movies which are often implemented in robots with AI, we will probably need to develop some greater understanding of our own, human visual system.
What sorts of science questions can you help me find the answer to?
General Vision Questions
...What are visual illusions and why do we have them? Are they important?
...What happens at the ophthalmologist's office?
...How come we see things "out there" when my eye is being stimulated?
...How well does my cat see? How well does a hawk see? What does a 4 month old baby see? How do we know this?
...Why haven't robots learned to see as we do?
...Can I remember every little detail in a visual scene which is briefly presented?
If you're interested in learning more about vision and visual illusions, check out these links!
Vision Neuroscience Questions
...How is the visual part of the brain organized?
...Is it true that there seem to be separate areas for color and motion?
...How did our visual system come to be wired up as it is?
...Is it true that over half of the monkey's brain is devoted to vision?
...What kind of visual deficits can happen after a stroke? What does this tell us about how visual information is represented in the brain?
If you're interested in learning more about vision neuroscience, check out our lab website!
Color Questions
...Why is the sky blue?
...Why do red flowers look so dark at dusk?
...Why can't I see when I walk into a movie theater from a bright sunny day?
If you're interested in learning more about color, check out these links!
Motion Questions
...Why do I feel like I'm moving forward when a car parked next to me drives backwards?
...How come my vision is rather clear for moving objects but it's very blurred if I took a snapshot with a camera? Isn't my eye like a camera?
If you're interested in learning more about motion, check out these links!
Shadows, Reflection and Depth Questions
...What causes the moon to appear larger when it's near the horizon?
...Why can I often see depth better with two eyes than with just one?
...Why does the moon look so big when it is near the horizon?
...What is the best way to camouflage oneself, why should we remain stationary if at all possible?
If you're interested in learning more about shadows, reflection and depth, check out these links!
Face Questions
...Why do clouds sometimes look like faces?
If you're interested in learning more about faces, check out these links!