Why people see faces or patterns where there are none: scientists explain
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People sometimes see an object or silhouette in a random image or pattern. This brain phenomenon is called pareidolia.
As Live Science explains, examples include a bear’s face on Mars, Jesus’ face on a tree stump, a human silhouette on the moon, and more.
There are several theories as to the cause of this phenomenon.
Scientists believe that the human brain has adapted to quickly pick out faces from a crowded visual scene. But pareidolia is a “glitch,” that is, an error in the system of rapid visual processing. This is stated in the 2020 study. which was published in the journal Psychological Science.
| Photo: lemanieh/Depositphotos |
It is interesting that the brain not only distinguishes faces, but also endows them with emotions.
“A striking feature of these objects is that they not only look like faces, but can even convey a sense of personality or social meaning. For example, the windows of a house can look like two eyes are looking at you, and a capsicum can have a happy look .look at his face“, – write the authors of the study.
Scientists have learned that people see male rather than female faces in inanimate objects more often. This is evidenced by the results of a 2022 study in the journal PNAS.
Scientists have established that chimpanzees, by the way, also see some facial features in objects, but not as well as we do.
Thanks to pareidolia, doctors have learned to diagnose a number of brain disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or Parkinson’s disease.
In 2022, scientists also found that people who experience pareidolia may also be more likely to have paranormal experiences or claim to have psychic perceptions. This is stated in a study in the journal PLoS One.
And the well-known Rorschach test with ink blots is an example of “directed pareidolia.” During it, people are asked what they see in the blurry ink spots.
Psychologists previously claimed that these tests are a “window into the subconscious”, but in 2021, scientists criticized the use of this technique to evaluate people in European trials.
It will be recalled that scientists also found out that women after giving birth are more inclined to see “faces” in inanimate objects.
Read also: The number of stars that can be seen with the naked eye has decreased in the sky – research
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