Caroline Latham
Nov 30th, 2006

Ambiguous Visual Illusion

What do you see?        

Lift

Do you see a series of black shapes on a white background, or do you see a white word on black background?

This image is an example of an ambiguous illusion — a picture or object that requires perceptual switching between the alternative interpretations of figure and ground. Our visual system simplifies visual scenes into a foreground figure that we focus on and a ground which is everything else and forms the background. And although you may be able to switch the figure and ground back and forth to see one image or the other, your eyes will not let you see both images at the same time. Our visual perception is created by our brain's interpretation in the cerebral cortex of visual information entering through the visual pathway.

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17 Responses to “Ambiguous Visual Illusion”
  1. # » Brain Teasers and Games for adults: our Top 50    « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains     on 16 Oct 2007 at 10:34

    [...] 33. What do you see. [...]

  2. # Richard Yorkon 28 Nov 2007 at 3:44

    LIFT

  3. # Sherion 06 Dec 2007 at 6:11

    LIFT

  4. # ETon 01 Jan 2008 at 1:51

    I can see both, whichever I want

  5. # Halidomon 01 Jan 2008 at 8:05

    I can see both but it seems to switch back and forth as I move my eyes across the picture.

  6. # Markon 06 Jan 2008 at 8:26

    The word Lift

  7. # Peanuton 10 Jan 2008 at 1:45

    LIFT

  8. # yahobahneon 20 Jan 2008 at 8:33

    the word lift

  9. # Cheeseon 26 Jan 2008 at 12:06

    Lift

  10. # CHRISon 29 Feb 2008 at 12:43

    LIFT

  11. # Aaronon 23 Mar 2008 at 10:38

    The word LIFT :)

  12. # play4evron 03 Jun 2008 at 5:49

    LIFT

  13. # Mukeshon 05 Jun 2008 at 4:48

    YES LIFT

  14. # ShelbyJuneon 10 Jun 2008 at 12:32

    LIFT, although I can see both figures and word.

  15. # zoomsparkon 18 Jun 2008 at 2:23

    i see the word 'laughed'. oh...oh wait, it reads: lift.

  16. # joyon 22 Oct 2008 at 3:25

    LIFT

  17. # deedeeon 11 Nov 2008 at 1:56

    i see both but it's a lot harder to just see the shapes rather than the word lift

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