13 examples of how our brain distorts reality

Human brain - amazingly complex and almost perfect mechanism. But he sometimes gives failure. Here are a few cognitive biases, which are proof of that.

1. We do not change your opinion after we see in his fallibility

Studies have shown that if we understand that certain facts refute our view, it does not change the opinion and will defend it with even greater zealHow facts backfire. The ego of man above all. It is much easier to assert their absolute right, than to change the view.

2. We can feel the rubber hand as a real

During the experiment, scientists have located next to the artificial hand and hand the volunteer two covered cloth, so that it was impossible to determine where the real. When you touch the rubber-limb man had a tactile sensationMirror Therapy Prevents Phantom Limb Pains in Injured SoldiersAs if to touch his hand. This phenomenon is called proprioception - the brain's ability to sense the location of the parts of the body in space relative to each other.

Because of this, scientists were able to cure the phenomenon of phantom pain that occurs after amputation of hands. They are located in front of the mirror of the patient so that he could see the amputated limb in place.

3. The moon does not become larger when approaching the horizon

We think that the closer to the horizon, the moon goes down, the more it becomes. However, this optical illusion. When the moon reaches the horizon, adjacent objects such as trees and buildings, create the future, thanks to which it visually increases.

4. Color affects our perception of temperature

The red color we associate unconsciously, with a high temperature, and blue - low. Studies have found that people find drinks in red or yellow glass warmer than blue or greenThe Effect of Glass Colour on the Evaluation of a Beverage's Thirst-Quenching Quality.

5. The constant repetition of false facts compels us to believe in them

The American research organization Pew Research Center found: about 20% of Americans believe that Barack Obama - a MuslimGrowing Number of Americans Say Obama is a Muslim. This belief is not based on any facts. Simply people constantly hear about it and formed a false belief. This effect is called the illusion of truth. According to them, the degree of truth of a proposition depends on how many times have we heard it.

6. Not everything that we know, was actually

There is a so-called effect confabulation - false memories. A person can really remember events that never happened. The brain is able to substitute facts and combine them in a random sequence. This phenomenon was discovered in 1866 by German psychiatrist Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum.

7. We do not learn by trial and error

Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology measured the brain activity of monkeys while they were doing right and wrong actionsWhy we do not learn from our mistakes. When the monkey was doing something right, the next time it was much easier to repeat the action. However, repetition after unsuccessful attempts did not have any positive effect.

8. Squares A and B of the same color

We, of course, it seems that it is not. This amazing optical illusion shows that the visual image is the result of integrated brain function, not only the eyes. The brain is, in this case "tunes" the image in accordance with our expectations by the shadow effect.

9. Vision helps us to taste

Scientists asked subjects to evaluate white wine. In the description of taste were listed characteristics peculiar to white wine. When the same drink scientists repainted in red color, the volunteers found it in notes of red wine. The experiment was repeated several times, but the results were unchangedTurning white wine into red. The appearance of food and beverages greatly affects the taste.

10. We can not ignore what is happening before our eyes

This phenomenon is called inattention blindness. It is solely a psychological phenomenon: people, concentrated on something, can lose sight of suddenly appearing stimulus, even if it is quite significant. This feature of our perception is often used illusionists.

11. The brain thinks that if five consecutive falls eagle on the sixth fall tails

Clearly, this is not the case. But our brain ignores the theory of probability. A chance to see an eagle once again we have the same as was before - 50%. However, the inner feeling wrongly suggests that the odds have changed.

12. We are easy to find two lines of the same length as long as others do not begin to make mistakes

Psychologist Solomon Asch put volunteers in a room with a group of front men and asked the question: "Which of the sections - A, B or C - is the same length as the first segment?". 32% of subjects responded correctly to the question, if three other people in the room gave the same wrong answerasch Experiment.

13. If someone ignores us, the brain is one reason that this man - a bastard

This is the responsibility of humans fundamental attribution error. Because of it, it seems to us that the behavior of other people - a manifestation of their personal qualities, and not the result of external factors. Thus, by default, the brain makes incorrect conclusions about other people's actions.