Guardian Article for the Perception Census

In December 2022, my photo article was published in The Guardian as part of a sponsored campaign by the Perception Census. The campaign has since ended and the article is no longer hosted on The Guardian’s website, but is reproduced here.

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The mysteries of the mind: why we all see the world differently

The leading researchers behind The Perception Census believe that perceptual diversity, explored here in this gallery, is key to understanding the mind. 

Experiences change the way we see

After a brain injury, Jason Padget’s vision became suffused with geometry. Now a mathematician and artist, here he depicts how he sees his own hand. 

Illustration: Quantum Hand Through My Eyes, Jason Padget, 2006

Vision at the edges of perception

Oddities of perception are part of all of our lives. Most people see patterns called ‘phosphenes’ when exposed to flashing light or pressure on the eyes. 

Illustration: Phil Penne

The echoes of our brain at work

Scientists began documenting the content of phosphenes 200 years ago. We now understand them as reflections of the neural processing of our eyes and brain.

Illustration: Purkinje, 1819

The colourful world behind your eyes

Audiences in the Dreamachine experienced a world of colours and phosphene-like phenomena behind closed eyes, reflected in their drawings - each one unique.

Composite: Anonymised drawings from attendees of the Dreamachine, Collective Act

Movement in stillness

Geometric images can produce unique experiences too. This ‘apparent motion’ optical illusion causes many people to see movement where there is none.

Image by Perepadia Y, illusion discovered by Akiyoshi Kitaoka

Scintillating starbursts

New illusions are often being found. Scientists recently discovered that people see rays of brightness in this image and are working to understand why. 

Illustration: Scintillating Starbursts Illusion by Karlovich and Wallisch, 2021

The Universe is held within you

No one but you has your brain, your mind or your perspective on reality. The hidden landscapes of our inner worlds have baffled great thinkers for centuries

illustration: Collective Act

Do you see what I see?

The Perception Census aims to map this diversity of experience. Take part to contribute your unique insights to our shared exploration of the human mind.

Photograph: Urszula Soltys

Learn about your own powers of perception, and how they relate to others, through illusions, brain teasers and more at Perceptioncensus.dreamachine.world

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