The optical illusion of THOUGHT has caused many to question their own brains.
Most optical illusions confuse the human brain through the use of colors and lines, and a simple image proves it.
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The thought-provoking optical illusion has forced many to question their own brains. Credit: S-kay/Wikimedia Commons
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The vertical line looks longer, but both lines are the same size Credit: S-kay/Wikimedia Commons
Known as vertical-horizontal illusions, this specific illusion consists of a horizontal line with a vertical line dividing it.
It was developed in 1858 by the German psychologist Wilhelm Wundt, who today is considered one of the modern fathers of psychology.
There are several different variants of the vertical-horizontal illusion.
The three main configurations are the L configuration, the plus (+) configuration, and the inverted T configuration.
Of the three, the inverted T configuration produces the largest illusion size.
At first glance, the vertical dividing line appears to be 30 percent longer than the horizontal line, according to Wundt.
However, to the surprise of many, the lines are exactly the same length.
The reasoning behind this phenomenon is unclear, but several possible explanations have been ruled out.
Some experts suggest that this is due to the positioning of the vertical line, which activates our depth perception.
In turn, our mind can perceive a vertical line that is further away than a horizontal line and, therefore, longer.
Another explanation suggests that the length of the line depends on how much effort is required to move the eyes over the lines.
Since Westerners are used to reading from left to right, this may require a little more effort than reading from top to bottom.
As a result, a vertical line may appear longer than a horizontal line of the same length.
Some studies have claimed that people who live in urban areas are more susceptible to the vertical-horizontal illusion than those who live in rural areas.
Interestingly, that 1977 study found that the urban group was more susceptible to the illusion of the vertical-horizontal L shape, but not the inverted T shape.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education