In this classic illusion, the two tabletops look completely different shapes but are actually identical
In this classic illusion, created by Stanford University psychologist Roger Shepard, the two tabletops
look completely different shapes but are actually identical. The illusion works for two reasons. First,
vertical lines tend to look relatively long while horizontal lines tend to look relatively short. Also,
the legs induce a sense of perspective, causing the back of the tabletop on the left to appear to be
much further away than the back of the tabletop on the right. Your brain alters your perception of the
tabletops, making the left one appear completely different to the right one.
Explanation by RICHARD WISEMAN