Perception under the microscope: Discover the secret tricks of our senses!

Perception under the microscope: Discover the secret tricks of our senses!

On April 2, 2025, an exciting tour through the exhibition “Perceiving & Understanding – the world, yourself and others” took place on the City Campus of the Technical University of Dortmund. In his lecture, Prof. Albert Newen from the Ruhr University Bochum focused on the importance of perception and its influence on our understanding of the world.

The exhibition, which was designed in collaboration with Prof. Katja Crone from the TU Dortmund and Prof. Raphael van Riel from the University of Duisburg-Essen, deals with various topics related to sensory perception. These include, among other things, visual illusions and the differences in sensory perception between humans and dogs.

Visual illusions and differences in perception

A highlight of the exhibition is an exhibit on color perception, in which visitors perceive different perceptions of a dress. Some see it as “purple with dark brown,” while others describe it as “white with gold.” This discrepancy clearly shows how different perceptions can be between people.

The discussions between the moderator Jürgen Wiebicke and the audience revealed further interesting aspects. Prof. Newen explained that factors such as exposure, such as bright daylight versus shallow morning light, and individual life experiences influence our interpretations.

Anatomy of visual perception

The fundamentals of visual perception are complex and involve fascinating anatomical processes. When processing visual information, the optic nerves transmit it via the “optic junction,” which allows information to travel from the left eye to the right hemisphere of the brain and vice versa.

Experts believe that this crossing of the optic nerves improves sensory perception. All optic nerves eventually reach the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe, where information is sorted. The parietal lobe processes movements and positions, while the temporal lobe is responsible for colors, patterns and shapes.

The entire process from the incidence of light to its evaluation in the brain takes place in a fraction of a second. Visual perception is therefore a subconscious process that enables us to perceive our surroundings quickly and effectively.

The exhibition “Perceiving & Understanding” runs until April 6th and offers visitors numerous other illusions and experiences to explore. It combines scientific findings with a tangible experience and encourages you to examine your own perception.