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A mirage

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Q: What optical illusion is often seen in deserts?
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What is an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions in which nonexistant bodies of water are seen?

It's called a Mirage (meee-rahhh-juh): an illusion created by light rippling in heat waves.


What is it called when atmospheric conditions cause nonexistent bodies of water to be seen?

An optical illusion that is caused by atmospheric conditions in which nonexistent bodies of water are seen is commonly referred to as a mirage. This is most common in extremely hot climates, and although the most common mirage is of bodies of water, there are other illusions that may appear to a person, as well.


What is optical nerve drusen?

Optical nerve drusen are a congenital disorder of the optic nerve that can be seen on a dilated eye exam. They are seen as one or more raised areas on the optic nerve head that are composed of bundles of glial tissue. They commonly have no effect on the visual function, but can occasionally be responsible for an increased blind spot. However, this is usually only seen with a visual field exam in an eye doctor's office.


What did Leornado da Vinci suggest as a way for artists to paint depth?

The use of perspective, linear and atmospheric, create the illusion of depth. As objects recede into the background they appear 'more blue' and have less detail. This technique can be seen in the background of the 'Mona Lisa'.


How do optical illusions work?

An optical illusion (also called a visual illusion) is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a percept that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source. In other words, deceit is involved. Due to light, colors, or some other factor, the eyes do not correctly perceive reality. There are three main types: literal optical illusions that create images that are different from the objects that make them, physiological ones that are the effects on the eyes and brain of excessive stimulation of a specific type (brightness, tilt, color, movement), and cognitiveillusions where the eye and brain make unconscious inferences.Physiological illusionsPhysiological illusions, such as the afterimages following bright lights, or adapting stimuli of excessively longer alternating patterns (contingent perceptual aftereffect), are presumed to be the effects on the eyes or brain of excessive stimulation of a specific type - brightness, tilt, color, movement, etc. The theory is that stimuli have individual dedicated neural paths in the early stages of visual processing, and that repetitive stimulation of only one or a few channels causes a physiological imbalance that alters perception. The Hermann grid illusion and Mach bands are two illusions that are best explained using a biological approach. Lateral inhibition, where in thereceptive field of the retina light and dark receptors compete with one another to become active, has been used to explain why we see bands of increased brightness at the edge of a color difference when viewing Mach bands. Once a receptor is active it inhibits adjacent receptors. This inhibition creates contrast, highlighting edges. In the Hermann grid illusion the gray spots appear at the intersection because of the inhibitory response which occurs as a result of the increased dark surround.[1] Lateral inhibition has also been used to explain the Hermann grid illusion, but this has been disproved.[citation needed]Cognitive illusionsCognitive illusions are assumed to arise by interaction with assumptions about the world, leading to "unconscious inferences", an idea first suggested in the 19th century by Hermann Helmholtz. Cognitive illusions are commonly divided into ambiguous illusions, distorting illusions, paradox illusions, or fiction illusions. Ambiguous illusions are pictures or objects that elicit a perceptual 'switch' between the alternative interpretations. The Necker cube is a well known example; another instance is the Rubin vase.Distorting illusions are characterized by distortions of size, length, or curvature. A striking example is the Café wall illusion. Another example is the famous Müller-Lyer illusion.Paradox illusions are generated by objects that are paradoxical or impossible, such as the Penrose triangle or impossible staircases seen, for example, in M. C. Escher'sAscending and Descending and Waterfall. The triangle is an illusion dependent on a cognitive misunderstanding that adjacent edges must join.Fictional illusions are defined as the perception of objects that are genuinely not there to all but a single observer, such as those induced by schizophrenia or a hallucinogen. These are more properly called hallucinations.Explanation of cognitive illusionsTo make sense of the world it is necessary to organize incoming sensations into information which is meaningful. Gestalt psychologists believe one way this is done is by perceiving individual sensory stimuli as a meaningful whole.[2] Gestalt organization can be used to explain many illusions including the Duck-Rabbit illusion where the image as a whole switches back and forth from being a duck then being a rabbit and why in the figure-ground illusion the figure and ground are reversible.In addition, Gestalt theory can be used to explain the illusory contours in the Kanizsa Triangle. A floating white triangle, which does not exist, is seen. The brain has a need to see familiar simple objects and has a tendency to create a "whole" image from individual elements.[2] Gestalt means "form" or "shape" in German. However, another explanation of the Kanizsa Triangle is based inevolutionary psychology and the fact that in order to survive it was important to see form and edges. The use of perceptual organization to create meaning out of stimuli is the principle behind other well-known illusions including impossible objects. Our brain makes sense of shapes and symbols putting them together like a jigsaw puzzle, formulating that which isn't there to that which is believable. Illusions can be based on an individual's ability to see in three dimensions even though the image hitting the retina is only two dimensional. The Ponzo illusion is an example of an illusion which uses monocular cues of depth perception to fool the eye.In the Ponzo illusion the converging parallel lines tell the brain that the image higher in the visual field is farther away therefore the brain perceives the image to be larger, although the two images hitting the retina are the same size. The Optical illusion seen in a diorama/false perspective also exploits assumptions based on monocular cues of depth perception. The M. C. Escher paintingWaterfall exploits rules of depth and proximity and our understanding of the physical world to create an illusion.Like depth perception, motion perception is responsible for a number of sensory illusions. Filmanimation is based on the illusion that the brain perceives a series of slightly varied images produced in rapid succession as a moving picture. Likewise, when we are moving, as we would be while riding in a vehicle, stable surrounding objects may appear to move. We may also perceive a large object, like an airplane, to move more slowly, than smaller objects, like a car, although the larger object is actually moving faster. The Phi phenomenon is yet another example of how the brain perceives motion, which is most often created by blinking lights in close succession.Perceptual constancies are sources of illusions. Color constancy and brightness constancy are responsible for the fact that a familiar object will appear the same color regardless of the amount of or colour of light reflecting from it. An illusion of color or contrast difference can be created when the luminosity or colour of the area surrounding an unfamiliar object is changed. The contrast of the object will appear darker against a black field which reflects less light compared to a white field even though the object itself did not change in color. Similarly, the eye will compensate for colour contrast depending on the colour cast of the surrounding area. Like color, the brain has the ability to understand familiar objects as having a consistent shape or size. For example a door is perceived as rectangle regardless as to how the image may change on the retina as the door is opened and closed. Unfamiliar objects, however, do not always follow the rules of shape constancy and may change when the perspective is changed. The Shepard illusion of the changing table[3] is an example of an illusion based on distortions in shape constancy. Researcher Mark Changizi of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York says optical illusions are due to a neural lag which most humans experience while awake. When light hits the retina, about one-tenth of a second goes by before the brain translates the signal into a visual perception of the world. Scientists have known of the lag, yet they have debated over how humans compensate, with some proposing that our motor system somehow modifies our movements to offset the delay.Changizi asserts that the human visual system has evolved to compensate for neural delays, generating images of what will occur one-tenth of a second into the future. This foresight enables human to react to events in the present. This allows humans to perform reflexive acts like catching a fly ball and to maneuver smoothly through a crowd.[4] Illusions occur when our brains attempt to perceive the future, and those perceptions don't match reality. For example, one illusion called the Hering illusion, looks like bike spokes around a central point, with vertical lines on either side of this central, so-called vanishing point. The illusion tricks us into thinking we are moving forward, and thus, switches on our future-seeing abilities. Since we aren't actually moving and the figure is static, we misperceive the straight lines as curved ones.Changizi said:Notes^ Pinel, J. (2005) Biopsychology (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN 0-205-42651-4^ a b Myers, D. (2003). Psychology in Modules, (7th ed.) New York: Worth. ISBN 0-7167-5850-4^ Bach, Michael (16 August 2004 (last update 2010-01-04)). "Shepard's "Turning the Tables"". 86 Optical Illusions & Visual Phenomena. Michael Bach. Archived from [http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/sze_shepardTables/index.html the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.^ a b Key to All Optical Illusions Discovered, Jeanna Bryner, Senior Writer, LiveScience.com 6/2/08. His research on this topic is detailed in the May/June issue of the journal Cognitive Science.^ Knowledge in perception and illusion by Richard L. Gregoryan optical illusion is a visually perceived image that is deceptive or misleading so they work in different ways. I have seen them in paper where you look for something and see something else until you are told what the picture really is or like the chalk drawings on the sidewalks that seen from an angle they look like three dimentional figures. Optical illlusions decieve the brain as to the image seen by its angles or shapes.

Related questions

What year was the first optical illusion seen?

1899 1899


What Is the illusion of the mask of the Egyptian Prince Hor?

an optical illusion where there is strong bias towards what is wanted to be seen rather than what is seen


An image that only seems to be where it is seen is a REAL image?

I believe you might be referring to an "Optical Illusion".


Can every one see optical illusions?

I really doubt anyone has done a survey of that, but I'd guess that most people have. After all, if you've seen a rainbow or sunset you've seen an optical illusion.


What is an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions in which nonexistant bodies of water are seen?

It's called a Mirage (meee-rahhh-juh): an illusion created by light rippling in heat waves.


Why is 69 a funny number?

69 is often seen as a funny number because this is a position in which a couple use when having sexual intercourse =3


Can stars be purple?

Stars may at times appear purple, but that would be an optical illusion caused by atmospheric aberrations, or something of that nature. Occasionaly stars, as seen form earth, look green, too, but that is also an example of an illusion or a trick of human vision.


What is another name for optical illusion caused by atmospheric condition in which nonexistent bodies of water are seen?

A mirage is an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions. Light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. A common mirage is a heat haze, On hot, sunny days, a shimmer on the road looks like pools of water. As you get closer, the image disappears.


Entertaining your Mind with Optical Illusions?

Optical illusions are pictures that use color, patterns, and light to trick the eyes and brain. When viewing an optical illusion, what the eyes see is interpreted by the brain, but the brain's interpretation does not match the true image. In fact, the brain sees something that is not really there. Optical illusions are fun to look at, but they also help scientists to learn how the brain works. Many optical illusions were created just to study how the brain processes visual information. There are three basic types of optical illusions: literal, physiological, and cognitive. Literal optical illusions form images that are unlike the objects that create them. The best way to understand a literal illusion is to look at one. An example of a literal illusion is the painting Bakery by Octavio Ocampo. In this painting, a woman sits in front of shelves full of bread in a bakery. However, the way the bread is arranged appears to form skulls. Another famous example of a literal optical illusion is the painting All Is Vanityby Charles Allan Gilbert in which a woman sitting at a vanity table looks like a skull when viewed from further away. Physiological illusions happen when excessive stimuli such as brightness, color, movement, or tilt, for example, cause the eyes or brain to see something that is not there. These illusions can also occur when stimuli compete. The Hermann grid illusion is a famous example of a physiological optical illusion. The Hermann grid is a white grid on a black background. When looking at it there appear to be gray dots at the intersections of the white lines, although in reality there are no gray dots. This is due to a physiological phenomenon called lateral inhibition which is when light and dark photoreceptors compete with each other and one part wants to become active and the other does not. This causes a perceptual illusion of gray dots on the grid. Cognitive illusions occur when the eye and brain make unintentional inferences. There are four types of cognitive illusions: ambiguous, distorting, paradox, and fictional. Ambiguous illusions offer two interpretations of a picture or object, but both can't be seen at the same time. A famous example of an ambiguous illusion is the Rubin vase, which either looks like a white vase or two face silhouettes facing each other. Distortions in length, size, and curves appear to be present in distorting illusions. A famous example of this type of illusion is the arrow illusion, otherwise known as the Mueller-Lyer illusion. In this illusion there are two lines that are the same size but one has the ends pointing in and one has ends pointing out; most people say that the line with the ends pointing in is longer. Paradox illusions are objects that are impossible in real life but look real in drawings, such as the Penrose stairs, which seem to go on forever without getting any higher. This illusion is due to the faulty belief that adjacent edges have to meet. The Penrose triangle is another example of a paradox illusion. Fictional illusions are only seen by a single person; they are actually hallucinations. They can be induced by alcohol or drugs, or by health conditions such as schizophrenia. Examples of fictional illusions are seeing double of one object or seeing something move when it really doesn't. Literal, physiological, and cognitive illusions all deceive the eyes and brain. People have been fascinated by optical illusions throughout history, and continue to be fascinated by them today. Paintings, books, and drawings of optical illusions have become famous because they are fun to look at; however, they also help scientists to discover how the brain works. Fun and science often go hand in hand. To learn more about optical illusions, please see the following links: Exploring Optical Illusions Types of Optical Illusions What You See Isn't Always What You Get! The Science of Light Optical Illusions Cognitive Illusions Gallery of Visual Illusions Different Optical Illusions Eye Popping Illusions Visual Illusion Illusion Optical Illusions for Teens Bio-Plasmics Optical Illusions Shedding Light When What You See IsNot What's There? Fun Visual Tricks & Optical Illusions 106 Visual Phenomena & Optical Illusions Rolling Uphill Can You Believe Your Eyes? Physiological Illusions Collection of Optical Illusions Seeing Swirling Snakes Arrows Optical Illusion Thaumatrope: An Optical Illusion Fun Optical Illusions 3D Illusions Pavement Drawings Using Illusions to Understand the Brain Optical Illusions Gallery What is an Optical Illusion Literal Optical Illusions The Hermann Grid


What do you mean by mirage?

An optical phenomenon that creates the illusion of water, often with inverted reflections of distant objects, and results from distortion of light by alternate layers of hot and cool air.Something illusory or insubstantial.In the distance, I could've sworn I saw my mom and dad across the desert, but it was just a trick of the light, and sadly, all I had seen was a mirage.


Where are cacti seen?

Mainly deserts.


What pyramid can be seen from the moon?

Without any optical aids no pyramid can be seen from the moon.