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An '''illusion''' is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort [[reality]], they are generally shared by most people.

An '''illusion''' is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort [[reality]], they are generally shared by most people.

The term ''illusion'' refers to a specific form of sensory distortion. Unlike a [[hallucination]], which is a distortion in the absence of a stimulus, an illusion describes a misinterpretation of a true sensation. For example, hearing voices regardless of the environment would be a hallucination, whereas hearing voices in the [[sound]] of running water (or other auditory source) would be an illusion.

The term ''illusion'' refers to a specific form of sensory distortion. Unlike a [[hallucination]], which is a distortion in the absence of a stimulus, an illusion describes a misinterpretation of a true sensation. For example, hearing voices regardless of the environment would be a hallucination, whereas hearing voices in the [[sound]] of running water (or other auditory source) would be an illusion.

 

 

Mimes are known for a repertoire of illusions that are created by physical means. The [[mime artist]] creates an illusion of acting upon or being acted upon by an unseen object.  These illusions exploit the audience's assumptions about the physical world.  Well known examples include "walls", "climbing stairs", "leaning", "descending ladders", "pulling and pushing" etc.

Mimes are known for a repertoire of illusions that are created by physical means. The [[mime artist]] creates an illusion of acting upon or being acted upon by an unseen object.  These illusions exploit the audience's assumptions about the physical world.  Well known examples include "walls", "climbing stairs", "leaning", "descending ladders", "pulling and pushing" etc.

An [[optical illusion]] is always characterized by visually perceived images that, at least in common sense terms, are deceptive or misleading. Therefore, the [[information]] gathered by the eye is processed by the brain to give, on the face of it, a  [[percept]] that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source. A conventional assumption is that there are physiological illusions that occur naturally and cognitive illusions that can be demonstrated by specific visual tricks that say something  more basic about how human perceptual systems work.

An [[optical illusion]] is always characterized by visually perceived images that, at least in common sense terms, are deceptive or misleading. Therefore, the [[information]] gathered by the eye is processed by the brain to give, on the face of it, a  [[percept]] that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source. A conventional assumption is that there are physiological illusions that occur naturally and cognitive illusions that can be demonstrated by specific visual tricks that say something  more basic about how human perceptual systems work.

The human brain constructs a world inside our head based on what it samples from the surrounding environment. However sometimes it tries to organise this information it thinks best while other times it fills in the gaps [http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1326364.1326487&coll=&dl=&CFID=11849883&CFTOKEN=72040242 ''First-order modeling and stability analysis of illusory contours'']. This way in which our brain works is the basis of an illusion.

The human brain constructs a world inside our head based on what it samples from the surrounding environment. However sometimes it tries to organise this information it thinks best while other times it fills in the gaps [http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1326364.1326487&coll=&dl=&CFID=11849883&CFTOKEN=72040242]. This way in which our brain works is the basis of an illusion.

==Auditory illusions==

==Auditory illusions==

==Tactile illusions==

==Tactile illusions==

Examples of tactile illusions include [[phantom limb]], the [[thermal grill illusion]], the [[cutaneous rabbit illusion]] and a curious illusion that occurs when the crossed index and middle fingers are run along the bridge of the nose with one finger on each side, resulting in the perception of two separate noses.  Interestingly, the brain areas activated during illusory tactile perception are similar to those activated during actual tactile stimulation. Tactile illusions can also be elicited through haptic technology[http://www.roblesdelatorre.com/gabriel/GR-VH-Nature2001.pdf Robles-De-La-Torre & Hayward 2001]. These "illusory" tactile objects can be used to create "virtual objects" [http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17363&ch=biotech&sc=&pg=1 The Cutting Edge of Haptics]  

Examples of tactile illusions include [[phantom limb]], the [[thermal grill illusion]], the [[cutaneous rabbit illusion]] and a curious illusion that occurs when the crossed index and middle fingers are run along the bridge of the nose with one finger on each side, resulting in the perception of two separate noses.  Interestingly, the brain areas activated during illusory tactile perception are similar to those activated during actual tactile stimulation. Tactile illusions can also be elicited through haptic technology[http://www.roblesdelatorre.com/gabriel/GR-VH-Nature2001.pdf]. These "illusory" tactile objects can be used to create "virtual objects" [http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17363&ch=biotech&sc=&pg=1]

==Other senses==

==Other senses==