PSYCHOLOGY APP OF THE WEEK 

NAME

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS (for both iOS and Android)

(scroll down for Android)

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS !  (iOS: free)

(Click on the icon to be taken to the webpage and iTunes store)

DESCRIPTION FROM THE APPLE STORE

An optical illusion (also called a visual illusion) is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality.

This SIMPLE Application is a collection containing 97 different optical illusions with complete descriptions about each optical perception. Watch and read them and be amazed.

Features

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– 97 different optical illusions

– Description of each illusion. Touch (scroll) the text to read complete description.

– Social connections. Send optical illusion image and description via email to friend or post to Facebook photos.

– Simple and intuitive user interface.

NAME

ILLUSIONS AND THE BRAIN  (ANDROID)

(Click on the icon to be taken to the Android Play site for downloading.)

DESCRIPTION

Description  From Google Play Store

Optical illusions: when your brain can’t believe your eyes!

The best collection of optical illusions with explanations for each of them. Amazing images subdivided by scientific categories and with the explanation of the mechanisms behind them.

Discover how your brain is fooled by the sight of these amazing images!

Play with your friends, try to beat your brain!

And now you can share the images with your friends.

The categories currently present are:

* Motion and psychedelic illusions

* Geometric illusions

* Hidden images

* Troxler’s fading

* Color illusions

* Ambiguous illusions

* Paradox illusions

* Autostereograms

* Illusory contours

* Afterimages

Optical Illusions (also called Visual Illusions) can use color, light and patterns to create images that can be deceptive or misleading to our brains. The information gathered by the eye is processed by the brain, creating a perception that in reality, does not match the true image. Perception refers to the interpretation of what we take in through our eyes. Optical illusions occur because our brain is trying to interpret what we see and make sense of the world around us. Optical illusions simply trick our brains into seeing things which may or may not be real.

HOW TO USE THESE APPs

First go download the app to your device.  Familiarize yourself with the particular illusions that best fit your Sensation & Perception lecture.  Connect your device to a projector and then show to your class to both discuss and engage your students.