Why do we see faces of inanimate objects?

Why do we see faces of inanimate objects?
Why do we see faces of inanimate objects?
Anonim

The human brain is able to see human faces where they are not: on the surface of the moon, on tree trunks, or even on a piece of cheese. Scientists have explained why this is happening.

Until now, researchers have not understood what exactly the brain is doing when it processes visual signals and interprets them as images of a human face. Neuroscientists at the University of Sydney have found that the brain identifies and analyzes illusory human faces using the same cognitive processes that operate with real faces.

“This means seeing faces in clouds (or other objects) is more than just a child's fantasy,” says David Elys, lead author of the study.

From an evolutionary perspective, he says, the advantage of never losing sight of someone's face far outweighs the mistakes that make inanimate objects appear as faces. The brain applies a rough two-eye pattern to the nose and mouth. Many things can satisfy this pattern and thus trigger a face detection response.

The face recognition reaction occurs in the brain with lightning speed: within a few hundred milliseconds. And even if with the mind a person understands that the seen object cannot have a face, the perception of the face is preserved.

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We not only see the faces of objects, but also try to guess their emotions. Photo: University of Sydney

Interestingly, the brain analyzes the expression of an illusory face as it does the real one. He gives him emotional attributes in order to understand whether he is a friend or an enemy, he is sad or cheerful, aggressive or in pain. At the same time, the picture we saw earlier affects the assessment of the face.

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