This is a past event
Mirror Cognition
Mirrors are familiar objects in our environment, we use mirrors effectively, and we recognise ourselves without effort. Yet many simple aspects of mirror reflections are surprising for a large number of children and adults. We can identify two types of errors. The first type relates to questions of what can be seen from where. This issue is linked with the role of the viewpoint in perception and in memory. The second type relates to information on the surface of the mirror itself. This issue relate to size and distance perception and the nature of the distal stimulus. In this respect mirrors are perceived as transparent surfaces akin to glass windows. The nature of these two types of errors is fundamentally different, but I will illustrate both of them in relation to some works of art in which mirrors are present. Mirrors also provide information about the self but not from a first person perspective, thus showing the flexibility of the system in how sensory information is used to update body image. Finally, I will return to art and illustrate the role of mirrors in self-portraiture, showing a common pattern in images created by famous painters and in selfies taken with modern smart phones.
- Speaker
- Dr Marco Bertamini
- Hosted by
- Dr Jasna Martinovic
- Venue
- T1 William Guild