Splash Biography

It is possible for some blind people to see objects without being able to explain what they see; it is also impossible for people to see objects that lie in a certain part of the visual field known as the “blind spot.” Two circles on a paper can be exactly the same, but one will seem larger to most viewers. These phenomena occur because of the spectacular way that our brains and nervous systems are structured. In this class, we will learn why every optical illusion can be explained by understanding how the brain works. There will be many demonstrations, videos, and examples. In addition to learning why different optical illusions and neurological anomalies happen from a biological perspective, we will also demonstrate what scientists do by using students as subjects in class experiments. Interesting readings will be handed out every week, but they will not be mandatory.