Human’ brains begin to process visual information differently as they become acclimated in space

[Ichingcarpenter]

Astronauts’ brains begin to process visual information differently as they become acclimated to a weightless environment, a new study published in PLoS One reports.

Optical illusions made up of line drawings that can be seen in two different ways, for example a chair that can be seen either facing towards or away from you, are known as “reversible perspective figures.” Studying how people see these figures sheds light on how the human brain takes two-dimensional images from the eyes and puts them together to see in three dimensions.

When people look at these illusions, what they see tends to switch back and forth between the two possible visual interpretations, but one of these views is typically dominant and is seen about 70 percent of the time. This is thought to occur because of the way the brain interprets cues about visual depth. Because the ground is usually closer to us than the sky or ceiling, the brain is more prepared to see lower parts of the drawing as closer, making it easier to see the picture in one way than the other.

A new study, led by Gilles Clément of the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, studied how astronauts saw these illusions to find out how prolonged weightlessness affects human depth perception. Six astronauts living on the International Space Station were tested on their vision of four reversible perspective figure optical illusions, viewing the figures on a screen and reporting each time their vision switched between the two possible interpretations. The astronauts were tested three times before leaving Earth, four times while in space for a period of up to six months, and another three times after returning.




Reversible perspective figures: a man’s face or old woman begging (left); a Spartan soldier head and helmet or a golfer swinging (right).
Reversible perspective figures: a man’s face or old woman begging (left); a Spartan soldier head and helmet or a golfer swinging (right).










more

http://www.psypost.org/2015/10/perception-of-illusory-depth-altered-in-astronauts-during-spaceflight-38867



From the movie Interstellar

[luvspeas]

1. Man's face or old woman begging?

I saw an angry red eyed turtle or a dude with upside down junk. But I do live on mars.

[Warpy]

2. Yeah, I saw a red eyed whatsis, too

Rotten eyesight makes me total shit at this stuff.

[progressoid]

3. "Turn your head and cough"

looks like an old woman giving a hernia exam to an old man.

[DhhD]

4. Stretching those two electrons and two positrons where ever they are.