Short Wave Why Illusions Are A Brain Feature, Not A Bug
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Jul 30, 2025 
Susana Martinez-Conde, a renowned professor specializing in ophthalmology and neurology, shares her insights on the captivating world of visual illusions. Discover how our brains interpret motion through astonishing examples, including award winners from her Illusion of the Year contest. The conversation dives into the science behind perception, revealing how illusions shape our understanding of reality. Martinez-Conde highlights the unique interplay of art and neuroscience, illustrating why these quirks of perception aren't flaws but fundamental features of the brain.
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Susana's Waterfall Illusion Experience
- As a child, Susana Martinez-Conde experienced the waterfall illusion by a river, seeing stationary objects appear to move oppositely.
- This early observation led her to explore the neuroscience behind motion aftereffect illusions.
Illusions Reveal Brain's Perception
- Our brains never perceive absolute values like black, white, big, or small; perception relies on comparisons.
- Illusions arise because perception always differs from physical reality, revealing how we construct our experience.
How Rotating Snakes Illusion Works
- The rotating snakes illusion tricks motion-sensitive neurons using luminance patterns combined with eye movements.
- Fixing your gaze suppresses these involuntary eye jumps, slowing or stopping the illusion's motion.