Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Home › Week 8 - Neurobiology and Behavior ›

Reply to comment

Shayna or Sheness Israel's picture

When You Look into A Mirror Are Your Seeing 2-D or 3-D?

Submitted by Shayna or Shene... on Tue, 03/27/2007 - 8:49am.

I found this interesting question on Help.com, "When you look into a mirror are you seeing 2-D or 3-D?"

At first I thought this question was super hard. Then someone else on help.com who responded to her said, "Well, when you look at the television, you have depth perception, so why is the mirror any different?"

That was such an illuminating answer and connection. That kid was right; in the mirror we do perceive objects in varying depths.

So my question is how does our brain work to create depth on a 2-D plain like a drawing on a piece of paper?

Another thing that intrigued me about what we learned this past week is that we do not have conscious control over not seeing these blind spots. Personally, I don't really mind that I don't. Knowing that I do is enough for me. It is another thing that lets me know I do not know the world or reality objectively.

Reply

To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
6 + 8 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities

Scanning electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities has 50 remote-ready activities, which work for either your classroom or remote teaching.

Narrative is determined not by a desire to narrate but by a desire to exchange. (Roland Barthes, S/Z)

What's New? Subscribe to Serendip Studio