School of Thinking

The Necker Cube and Human Perception

Posted on December 24th, 2007 by Michael

neckercube.jpg The Necker Cube is an ambiguous line drawing. It can be interpreted two different ways. When a person stares at the picture, it will often seem to flip back and forth between the two valid interpretations. The Necker Cube is an optical illusion first published in 1832 by Swiss crystallographer Louis Albert Necker.

Like the paradox of the “half-empty/half-full glass of water” the Necker Cube shows how human perception is multi-stable. It can change and be changed–it can flip/flop.

This also shows why the cvs2bvs brain software is so powerful in the human perception system because it can change, or flip, perception from one stable state to another stable state–on command!

Click through here to an interesting animated Necker Cube.

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10 Responses to “The Necker Cube and Human Perception”


  1. john buchanan Says:

    While the illusions did not work for me I understand that perception and reality are quite different and who creates perception can make a major impact on our lives if we accept blindly

  2. Tony Says:

    I can change my view of my world, and anything in it, simply by deciding to see it differently.

  3. School of Thinking » Blog Archive » SOT says Bravo to new logo … Says:

    [...] Click through here for more on the Necker Cube … [...]

  4. School of Thinking » Blog Archive » New Logo: SOT says Bravo! Says:

    [...] Click through here for more on the Necker Cube …  [...]

  5. Sandeep Choudhary Says:

    interesting….
    you have to just try and you can change your perception so quickly and flip so easily….

  6. Susan Says:

    WOW!!!!

  7. Ruk Says:

    Interesting to see how illusive perceptions can be.

  8. Bruce Swanton Says:

    Perception is everything. Question every formulation.

  9. hi Says:

    sort of like love huh?

  10. School of Thinking » Blog Archive » Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Says:

    [...] « The Necker Cube and Human Perception [...]