Visual Perception: How Our Brains Interpret the World

1. Visual Perception: How Our Brains Interpret the World They say that perception is reality, but what if the way we perceive the world around us isn't actually accurate? Our brains are incredibly complex, and the way they interpret visual information is a fascinating topic that has enticed scientists for decades. Did you know that our brains can process visual information up to 60,000 times faster than text? Or that over 50% of our brain is dedicated to processing visual information? In this blog, we will delve into the world of visual perception, exploring how our brains interpret the visual world around us and the captivating science behind it. The Fundamentals of Visual Perception The human brain visually perceives everything to make sense of the surrounding world. How? Let’s take this example. When you see pizza on the table, your brain assesses its color, shape, and texture to label it as food. Or when you play a video game, your brain visually perceives the graphics to judge how far your enemy is, how fast your character is moving, and what should be your reaction time. Visual perception does so much more than just recognize objects. It also helps the human brain understand depth, motion, spatial relationships, etc. Visual Processing in the Brain At the back of the brain, in the primary visual cortex, visual impulses from the retina are first processed. Here, the signals are divided into many characteristics, such as color, shape, direction, and movement. •Perception of Color Color perception is a complex process that involves the interaction of multiple areas in the brain. The human eye contains three types of cones sensitive to different wavelengths of light. These cones are responsible for our ability to perceive colors, which are perceived by the brain to create the perception of color. •Perception of Shape and Form The perception of shape and form is also a complex process involving multiple areas of the brain. The brain processes the signals from the retina and breaks down the features of an object, such as its edges and contours. These features are then combined to create the perception of shape and form.

2. •Perception of Motion The perception of motion is the ability to detect and interpret changes in the position of objects in the visual field over time. It allows us to perceive movement in our surroundings, track moving objects, and navigate through our environment. There are two main types of motion perception: first-order and second-order motion. First-order motion refers to the perception of changes in the position of an object itself, while second-order motion refers to the perception of changes in the texture, contrast, or other properties of an object that create the illusion of motion. Motion perception is influenced by different factors, including the speed, direction, and trajectory of an object, as well as its contrast and luminance. It is also influenced by contextual factors, such as the presence of other moving objects in the visual field and the overall structure of the visual scene. The Role of Experience in Visual Perception Visual perception is not just a passive process of receiving visual information from the environment. Our past experiences and knowledge also influence how we perceive the world around us. For example, if you are looking at a painting by Picasso, your brain will interpret the distorted shapes and colors differently than if you were looking at a realistic photograph. Our expectations and biases can also influence our visual perception. A classic example is the "duck-rabbit illusion," where the same image can be interpreted as either a duck or a rabbit, depending on our expectations and past experiences. Scientists deploy many techniques to assess visual perception and the ecological momentary assessment application from NeuroUX is one brilliant way to work with real-time data and analyze visual perception. Their cognitive testing applications with 15+ validated tests are used by researchers and clinicians to get real-time data for studies. Source: https://ecologicalmomentaryassessment.blogspot.com/2023/04/visual-perception- how-our-brains.html