When you play the GIF image below, do you see the stick figures moving? This tweet propelled me to seek answers I have always desired.
As a new month begins and I ponder my passion for helping parents assist their children in optimizing their brainpower to access learning, I realize that I have had a profound interest in the workings of the brain, for a very long time.
From a child, I’ve been fascinated with optical illusions. I wondered why these images were able to trick my brain into seeing things that were not real, appear to be genuine.
An optical illusion is defined as a visual stimulus that is perceived by the eyes and then comprehended by the brain in a way that is different from reality. They affect our brains in different ways. Some trick our brains into seeing motion. Others delude us into perceiving colors or shapes that are not really there.
If you have harbored a fascination with these perceptual illusions also, let me share some of the information I discovered when I went searching for answers.
Neuroscientists have found that most of the time, the visual system “sees” the differences in optical illusions. It is the brain that misinterprets and overrides the visual signals it receives. They have come to believe that the story our brain tells us is influenced by our life experiences.
According to Pascal Wallisch, when confronted with ambiguity, our brains fill in the ambiguity using whatever we’re familiar with. So, these illusions occur because our brains are doing their best to interpret what we see and make sense of the world around us.
When we consider the fact that the same neural mechanism that interprets sensory input (information coming to us from our eyes, ears, etc.) is also responsible for us seeing something that is not there or failing to see something that is there, we must admit that it is unfair to accuse a child who learns differently from how knowledge is disseminated in the majority of schools of being lazy or unmotivated.
When our children misperceive reality, remembering our own vulnerability to optical illusions should evoke empathy and understanding.
No one’s experience of reality is perfect. We must, therefore, “live and let live” and do our best to advocate for our children whose brains work differently from most of their classmates in processing classroom instruction.
How do we know that their perceptions are wrong?
Who determines what is normal for your child?
When parents facilitate the experiences that are necessary and foundational for developmental milestones, children will gain the skills that give them access to learning and a springboard to success in school and life.
Has a child ever given you an account of a shared experience that is very different from how you perceived it? What did you do?
As a new grandparent, I’m seeing the world different than I used to. I’m so looking forward to see how she perceives the world. I really like your blog and think that you present really interesting topics.
Thank you, Chery. I pray for God’s blessings on your grandparenting journey. Enjoy the ride! 😊
Throughly enjoyed this post. Your message about thinking differently about children’s observations is something that we all need to remember. You are a wonderful force for positivity!
Thanks, Victoria. I appreciate you.
Oh yes, I have had a few times when others (including my children) have had different perspectives on shared experiences; and that certainly broadened my own feelings about things, people, and experiences..
It’s amazing how much we can learn from the differences in others’ way of thinking when we are open to listening without bias.
Hi Flo! I enjoyed this so much because I am currently working with a school district to help train their teachers and staff to understand and appreciate diversity.
This post, talking about how people who see the same thing might interpret it differently based on the stories their brains are telling them is one of the concepts we have been working on. It was validating to read it in such a clear way – especially the part about our brains misinterpreting and overriding the visual signals it receives.
Thanks, Dr. Jones, for your affirmation. I appreciate what you are doing for the teachers in the school district. So many teachers are ill-equipped and unprepared to teach our very diverse learners of today. Blessings to you.