Study reveals how optical illusions trick fish but not birds

How They Did It?

The scientists made some modified setups that replicated the illusion for each species. For guppies, small or large circles surrounded food flake and for doves, millet seeds were similarly arranged. Their choices were recorded to determine whether they were “fooled” by the visual trick.

What did scientists observe?

The study highlights that perception is not merely a passive reflection of reality. Animals interpret sensory information through ecological and evolutionary filters. Guppies see things as a whole, which makes them more likely to be fooled by illusions. Doves, on the other hand, focus on details, so illusions don't trick them as much.

Why It Matters? 

Turns out, where an animal lives really changes how it sees things. Guppies kept falling for the illusion, going for the food that looked bigger. But the ring doves, they were all over the place, with no real pattern. This indicates that behaviour change of species depend on evolution and how their brains process the visuals.

Future Understanding

By learning how animals perceive things, scientists can figure out necessary research about how animals fall for optical illusions. After observing different creatures, like fish and birds, it shows how brains have evolved to understand the world in many ways. This study is about just how different perception can be present in all animals.