skepttv:

The Flashed Face Effect

Here is some really surprisingly research coming out of the University of Queensland. While working on an unrelated project, researchers aligned a bunch of faces at the eyes. The surprise came when the faces were played back in succession while not looking directly at them. Viewed in the periphery, what you perceive is a procession of horrific, scary, monster-like faces. But stop the video on any one of them, and each turns out to be a pretty, pleasing face.

According to the researchers, Sean Murphy and Matt Thompson, what your brain keys on are all the specific differences between each face. As the center of your brain’s attention, those differences appear magnified and greatly distorted.

Watch this video twice. First do as it says, and keep your eyes on the cross. Note how ugly the faces are that go by. And then play it a second time, looking directly at the faces, and pausing it whenever you like. There is not an ugly one to be found.

Amazing!

by Brian Dunning.

This is fascinating.

(via wnyc)

Notes

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  18. ala-away reblogged this from crayola-bomb and added:
    Sometimes I stop and think about how much my brain/body does without me being consciously aware of it and then I start...
  19. crayola-bomb reblogged this from citizencurator and added:
    This is insane. Crazy insane.
  20. citizencurator reblogged this from wnycradiolab and added:
    Is this why I don’t like crowds?
  21. bourbonandbitters reblogged this from wnycradiolab
  22. sarahblooming reblogged this from wnycradiolab
  23. phofascinating reblogged this from wnycradiolab and added:
    this freaked.me.out. lord i love radio lab.
  24. empirelilliputian reblogged this from skeptv
  25. jordanhillier reblogged this from wnycradiolab and added:
    The Flashed Face Effect Here is some really surprisingly research coming out of the University of Queensland. While...
  26. blowjay-simpson reblogged this from skeptv
  27. mangoop reblogged this from wnycradiolab
  28. margalirae reblogged this from hearthstrider and added:
    holy shit when you’re high. they’re cartoons.