WEBVTT 00:00:00.036 --> 00:00:02.406 >> When it comes to your attentional spotlight, 00:00:02.616 --> 00:00:05.486 you probably assume you only see what your eye is taking in, 00:00:06.056 --> 00:00:10.026 but the light entering your eyes is just the first piece of the puzzle. 00:00:10.336 --> 00:00:14.386 The real magic is what your brain does with that information. 00:00:15.346 --> 00:00:20.216 Without your brain's visual cortex making sense of everything, the world would appear to you 00:00:20.216 --> 00:00:22.596 like a random collection of colors and shapes. 00:00:23.476 --> 00:00:28.146 This is the raw data your eyes actually take in, and this is what you see 00:00:28.146 --> 00:00:30.426 when your brain stitches it all together. 00:00:30.676 --> 00:00:32.896 Sounds like a pretty flawless system, right? 00:00:32.896 --> 00:00:34.156 Think again. 00:00:34.156 --> 00:00:41.346 Even with your eyes and brain working together perfectly, there are still limitations. 00:00:41.346 --> 00:00:45.396 For example, you probably think that if your eyes see something, 00:00:45.396 --> 00:00:47.426 your brain can't unsee it, right? 00:00:47.426 --> 00:00:49.626 Not exactly. 00:00:50.166 --> 00:00:55.436 We're about to blow your mind with nothing more than a few footballs. 00:00:56.236 --> 00:00:57.876 See the four footballs on the screen? 00:00:58.476 --> 00:01:01.636 All you have to do is pick one and stare directly at it. 00:01:01.636 --> 00:01:03.006 That's it. 00:01:03.366 --> 00:01:06.776 Don't let your eyes flicker to any of the other footballs. 00:01:09.156 --> 00:01:10.976 Are you focused on one? 00:01:11.166 --> 00:01:16.776 Good. Keep looking at it, because right about now something strange should be happening. 00:01:17.136 --> 00:01:21.646 Are the other footballs fading? 00:01:21.846 --> 00:01:24.266 Have any of them disappeared completely? 00:01:25.366 --> 00:01:28.966 We promise you, we aren't altering the image in any way. 00:01:30.196 --> 00:01:32.746 The footballs aren't disappearing from the screen. 00:01:32.916 --> 00:01:34.726 They're disappearing from your brain. 00:01:35.676 --> 00:01:37.626 And the reason why will amaze you. 00:01:38.766 --> 00:01:40.906 So, why did the footballs disappear? 00:01:41.646 --> 00:01:46.036 >> It's because your brain decided that it wasn't in the world to begin with. 00:01:46.096 --> 00:01:49.716 Because the light sensitive part of your eye is actually in the very back of the eyeball, 00:01:50.236 --> 00:01:53.776 it's up to your brain to figure out what stimulation is coming from the world 00:01:53.946 --> 00:01:56.926 and what's coming from inside your own eye. 00:01:56.926 --> 00:02:01.286 In this case, because the football stay fixed in the same position and didn't play along 00:02:01.286 --> 00:02:05.716 with the rest of the motion, your brain decides that the football isn't in the world 00:02:05.716 --> 00:02:07.036 in the first place and it's gone. 00:02:07.036 --> 00:02:13.076 >> It's not just your brain that can miss things when it's trying to be helpful. 00:02:13.076 --> 00:02:17.186 The structure of your eye can also lead you to see less than you think. 00:02:17.406 --> 00:02:21.406 >> The fovea takes up less than 5% of the surface of your eye, 00:02:21.406 --> 00:02:26.936 but 50% of your brain's visual cortex is devoted to processing what the fovea delivers. 00:02:26.936 --> 00:02:31.716 This is why your fovea produces such a sharp, high definition image. 00:02:31.716 --> 00:02:36.606 The other 95% of your eye, your peripheral vision, is very low resolution, 00:02:36.606 --> 00:02:41.116 like a cell phone camera from 1998. 00:02:41.206 --> 00:02:45.196 >> You have to ask yourself, if everything outside the center 00:02:45.196 --> 00:02:48.816 of your gaze is blurry, can you trust what you see? 00:02:49.136 --> 00:02:49.826 Let's find out. 00:02:50.516 --> 00:02:55.376 [ Music ] 00:02:55.876 --> 00:03:02.716 Professor Brian Scholl has come to this college campus to put peripheral vision to the test. 00:03:03.346 --> 00:03:06.186 He's going to ask our volunteers to stare at this X, 00:03:06.396 --> 00:03:09.156 forcing them to use only their peripheral vision. 00:03:11.556 --> 00:03:14.486 You can play along with the volunteers on this. 00:03:15.396 --> 00:03:16.396 >> Come on over. 00:03:17.256 --> 00:03:18.586 Nathaniel, This is Sadie. 00:03:19.456 --> 00:03:21.226 Sadie is holding a big white X. 00:03:21.526 --> 00:03:21.856 >> Dig that. 00:03:21.856 --> 00:03:24.396 >> In just a minute, I'm going to ask you to ask you to close your eyes. 00:03:24.396 --> 00:03:26.476 [Laughing] While your eyes are closed, we're going to bring out two more cheerleaders. 00:03:26.766 --> 00:03:31.156 When I say go, you're going to open your eyes for one second, then close them again. 00:03:31.356 --> 00:03:31.476 >> Okay. 00:03:31.886 --> 00:03:34.566 >> While your eyes are open, you are going to stare at that white X. 00:03:34.686 --> 00:03:36.186 That white X is your entire world now. 00:03:36.326 --> 00:03:40.006 Okay? And then after your eyes are closed, you are going to choose one 00:03:40.006 --> 00:03:41.706 of the two other cheerleaders to be on Sadie's team. 00:03:41.706 --> 00:03:42.006 You got it? 00:03:42.176 --> 00:03:42.536 >> Sounds good. 00:03:42.636 --> 00:03:43.116 >> Eyes closed. 00:03:43.306 --> 00:03:44.796 >> Sounds pretty simple, right? 00:03:44.796 --> 00:03:48.886 All our volunteers need to do is use their peripheral vision 00:03:49.026 --> 00:03:50.586 to pick the prettier cheerleader. 00:03:51.236 --> 00:03:51.546 >> You ready? 00:03:51.876 --> 00:03:51.946 Go. 00:03:52.516 --> 00:03:56.236 [ Music ] 00:03:56.736 --> 00:03:56.926 >> Right. 00:03:57.076 --> 00:03:57.766 >> Fantastic. 00:03:57.766 --> 00:03:58.436 Let's have group two. 00:03:58.706 --> 00:03:59.306 You ready? 00:03:59.376 --> 00:03:59.816 >> Yep. 00:03:59.986 --> 00:04:00.756 >> And go. 00:04:01.516 --> 00:04:05.966 [ Music ] 00:04:06.466 --> 00:04:06.676 >> Right. 00:04:07.396 --> 00:04:08.116 >> Group three, please. 00:04:08.406 --> 00:04:10.586 >> So, have you noticed anything weird? 00:04:10.926 --> 00:04:13.446 Let's see the test from a different angle. 00:04:14.226 --> 00:04:20.006 Nathaniel is only 10 feet away, but his peripheral vision isn't good enough to catch 00:04:20.006 --> 00:04:22.316 that half of the cheerleaders are guys. 00:04:22.316 --> 00:04:27.046 In case you didn't notice, one of each pair is a dude. 00:04:27.176 --> 00:04:31.806 And if you did, your peripheral vision is truly exceptional. 00:04:31.806 --> 00:04:34.886 We're going to run this test on a few more volunteers. 00:04:34.886 --> 00:04:36.486 Do you think they'll catch what's going on? 00:04:37.516 --> 00:04:40.106 [ Music ] 00:04:40.606 --> 00:04:40.673 >> Go. 00:04:41.516 --> 00:04:43.856 [ Music ] 00:04:44.356 --> 00:04:46.426 >> Um, left. 00:04:50.006 --> 00:04:51.586 [Buzzer] Um, right. 00:04:51.586 --> 00:04:51.926 [Bell ding] 00:04:51.926 --> 00:04:52.976 >> And go. 00:04:53.516 --> 00:04:57.046 [ Music ] 00:04:57.546 --> 00:04:59.226 It's your choice. 00:04:59.296 --> 00:04:59.546 >> Left. [Buzzer] 00:05:00.516 --> 00:05:04.066 [ Music ] 00:05:04.566 --> 00:05:04.786 Right. [Buzzer] 00:05:05.066 --> 00:05:08.476 >> How are you feeling about your choices? 00:05:08.476 --> 00:05:09.146 >> Pretty fantastic. 00:05:09.146 --> 00:05:09.836 >> Pretty good. 00:05:09.886 --> 00:05:10.236 >> All right. 00:05:10.236 --> 00:05:10.496 >> No idea. 00:05:10.586 --> 00:05:12.486 >> So, let's have you close your eyes one more time, please. 00:05:12.486 --> 00:05:12.816 >> Oh boy. 00:05:12.986 --> 00:05:13.176 >> Okay. 00:05:13.706 --> 00:05:14.976 >> Let's bring out Nathaniel's cheerleading team. 00:05:15.031 --> 00:05:17.031 [ Cheering ] 00:05:17.046 --> 00:05:17.206 >> Oh no. 00:05:17.206 --> 00:05:18.036 >> Yeah. 00:05:18.036 --> 00:05:18.136 >> Oh no. [Laughter] 00:05:18.136 --> 00:05:21.686 >> What do you think? 00:05:21.846 --> 00:05:24.126 >> Ah, they're just the perfect squad. 00:05:24.406 --> 00:05:27.066 [Laughter] Lots of strength. 00:05:27.366 --> 00:05:31.956 >> Nathaniel and Russell each picked two girls and two guys. 00:05:32.006 --> 00:05:34.036 >> It turns out that the vast majority 00:05:34.036 --> 00:05:37.586 of our visual field is extremely blurry, fuzzy, very low resolution. 00:05:37.686 --> 00:05:41.086 Only the smallest part of our visual field is actually in high definition. 00:05:41.496 --> 00:05:43.986 >> I never thought that my peripheral vision was that bad. 00:05:43.986 --> 00:05:48.206 >> Which goes to show, your peripheral vision is so weak at resolving detail, 00:05:48.546 --> 00:05:50.776 you have no better than a 50/50 chance. 00:05:50.776 --> 00:05:51.926 >> All right. 00:05:52.516 --> 00:05:54.556 [ Laughter and Music ] 00:05:55.056 --> 00:05:56.786 >> Except for Craig. 00:05:57.026 --> 00:05:59.836 His peripheral vision is a perfect 100%. 00:05:59.836 --> 00:06:02.966 >> Why don't you guys open your eyes and see how Craig did? 00:06:02.966 --> 00:06:04.176 >> One hundred percent wrong. 00:06:06.006 --> 00:06:08.136 Yep, he picked a full lineup of dudes. 00:06:08.136 --> 00:06:08.726 [Inaudible] 00:06:08.726 --> 00:06:10.886 >> Eyes of a tiger. 00:06:11.266 --> 00:06:12.446 >> Green team, right there. 00:06:12.446 --> 00:06:17.986 >> None of our volunteers caught on that half the people they were looking at were guys. 00:06:17.986 --> 00:06:23.026 Now, you may be thinking, There's no way you'd fall for this if you were there. 00:06:23.026 --> 00:06:28.226 You would never miss something so obvious as bulging muscles, hairy legs, and beards. 00:06:28.446 --> 00:06:32.986 >> When I first opened my eyes, I initially saw hair color, skin width, height, 00:06:33.146 --> 00:06:35.786 and that was really all because it was just a blur. 00:06:36.146 --> 00:06:40.856 But while you might be laughing at these guys, let's see if you can do any better. 00:06:41.386 --> 00:06:45.726 In just a minute, you'll get a chance to pick which cheerleader is actually a girl. 00:06:46.136 --> 00:06:49.936 Let's just hope your peripheral vision doesn't let you down like you did them. 00:06:50.516 --> 00:06:53.216 [ Music ] 00:06:53.716 --> 00:06:58.686 Our last experiment revealed just how weak peripheral vision is at seeing detail. 00:06:59.216 --> 00:07:03.026 And if you think yours is better, here's your chance to prove it. 00:07:03.316 --> 00:07:08.636 You need to stare straight ahead at this X. In a second, we'll show you two cheerleaders. 00:07:09.086 --> 00:07:11.256 All you need to do is pick which one is a woman. 00:07:12.126 --> 00:07:18.426 Don't cheat and look away from the X. Ready and make your pick. 00:07:19.716 --> 00:07:21.876 So? Which one did you choose? 00:07:23.416 --> 00:07:26.896 If you picked the one on the right, you chose pretty wisely, [bell ding] 00:07:27.696 --> 00:07:32.746 but if you picked the one on the left, [buzzer] you might not be so happy. 00:07:32.746 --> 00:07:35.426 Yep, that's a dude. 00:07:35.426 --> 00:07:38.326 We gave you the easy one first. 00:07:38.326 --> 00:07:43.176 So, if you're feeling good about yourself, get ready for the next one. 00:07:43.366 --> 00:07:50.006 Okay, stare straight at the X and make your pick. 00:07:50.096 --> 00:07:51.886 Which one did you pick this time. 00:07:53.516 --> 00:07:56.596 If you chose the one on the right, [bell ding] good job. 00:07:56.806 --> 00:07:59.376 If you picked the one on the left again, 00:08:00.296 --> 00:08:03.596 [buzzer] you've just learned something profound about your sense of vision. 00:08:03.806 --> 00:08:08.266 This test reveals just how much of your field of vision is an illusion. 00:08:08.836 --> 00:08:12.276 Your brain creates a seamless, high-resolution field of view 00:08:12.276 --> 00:08:16.946 because your eyes are simply incapable of delivering it on their own. 00:08:17.656 --> 00:08:18.796 But it's not all bad. 00:08:18.796 --> 00:08:22.686 Your peripheral vision is the way it is for a reason. 00:08:22.686 --> 00:08:27.156 >> The good news is that our peripheral vision has other strengths, like detecting motion 00:08:27.156 --> 00:08:30.536 and seeing dim, uncolored patterns, especially when they happen quickly. 00:08:31.076 --> 00:08:35.486 This is what allows a quarterback to make good sense of the entire field during a game, 00:08:35.686 --> 00:08:38.626 or for a person driving a car to notice someone in the next lane. 00:08:39.266 --> 00:08:42.536 For them, it doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman, they just need to keep 00:08:42.536 --> 00:08:44.376 from getting rear ended or tackled. 00:08:44.876 --> 00:08:48.946 So, the next time you're driving or watching the game, you have to ask yourself, 00:08:49.406 --> 00:08:53.916 where should I direct my visual focus and place my attentional spotlight? 00:08:53.916 --> 00:08:56.576 Am I in control or is my brain?