Medical imaging experts may possess a hidden superpower—an uncanny ability to see through optical illusions—that researchers now believe can be taught, challenging long-held assumptions about the limits of human perception.
While the ability to spot optical illusions varies depending on the individual, researchers from four UK universities found that medical imaging professionals trained to spot minute differences in X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans have an inherent “superpower” that makes them particularly difficult to fool. The findings go against conventional wisdom that says an individual’s susceptibility to optical illusions is fixed and cannot be improved.
If confirmed, the study authors believe this opens up the possibility of training people to spot an optical illusion, especially in fields like medical imaging, where such a skill can be critical. They also believe that traditional optical illusions may be added to the training curriculum for people in these professions to augment that ability.
Optical Illusions and the Power of Perception
Several studies have looked at the effects of perception on reality, including the perception of pain, how the perception of time can vary by individuals, how it directly affects biological processes, and how time perception can be skewed by what one sees.
In other work, researchers have trained AI to spot an optical illusion, or used optical illusions to teach their AI about physics. Even magicians, who are experts at creating optical illusions that can fool audiences, are trying to expand their horizons by creating auditory illusions for blind audiences.
According to the senior researcher on the new study, Dr. Martin Doherty, from the University of Anglia’s School of Psychology, figuring out an optical illusion designed to fool the brain “can be a bit of fun” while shedding light on how the human brain works.
In their published study, Doherty’s team decided to study medical imaging specialists “to better understand whether people who are very experienced and skilled in visual recognition do better at solving optical illusions.”
In a phone call with The Debrief, Dr. Michael Green, a 29-year medical imaging specialist and CEO of The Rad MPG LLC, who was not part of the research, explained how differentiating sizes, shapes, and other characteristics in medical imaging typically involves a four-year residency and another year of fellowship to become proficient enough to practice independently. The career radiologist also said that it can take years to become skilled at differentiating between “normal and pathology” in medical imagery.
“For me, X-rays are the easiest,” Dr. Green said. “Mammography can be particularly challenging, because the difference between normal and abnormal can be extremely difficult to determine.”
Tests Reveal ‘Superpower’ of Medical Imaging Professionals
To test their hypothesis, the research team enlisted 151 volunteers. Forty-four were radiographers and radiologists, while the remaining 107 were described as “non-experts.”
While optical illusions can take several forms, the researchers focused on illusions regarding variances in size. One example is the Ebbinghaus Illusion, which challenges viewers to differentiate the sizes of two spheres.
The two groups were shown a series of optical illusions designed to make judging the size of similar objects difficult. According to the study authors, the differences between objects varied for each illusion, allowing them to accurately measure the precision of each volunteer’s ability to judge the variance.
As hoped, the team found that the imaging professionals were more adept at identifying which objects were larger than the non-experts. The imaging experts were also better at spotting more minute differences in size than the non-experts. Such a marked variance in perception indicated that medical experts were adept at identifying pathology and better at perception overall.
“In other words, medical imaging experts also literally see better in everyday life!” the team’s statement explains.
Findings Show Ability Can Be Taught, Countering Conventional Wisdom
First author Dr Radoslaw Wincza, from the School of Medicine and Dentistry at University of Central Lancashire, who observed that many illusions are effective “even if you know it is an illusion,” believes their findings reveal two key points.
First, the results indicate that experts trained in imaging analysis are better at deciphering an optical illusion than everyday individuals. Second, perhaps even more significant, the researcher said their results indicate it is not a fixed ability.
“Until now, it was generally believed you could not train yourself to avoid the illusory effects,” Wincza explained. “But this research suggests that training aimed at accurately perceiving objects in medical images has the effect of making experts less susceptible to visual illusions.”
Doherty said that their study is the first to show that training people to detect optical illusions is even possible. The researcher added that training medical professionals in this ability is particularly significant, “given that 60 to 80 percent of diagnostic errors are perceptual in nature.” Dr. Green agreed, noting that although the current radiology curriculum does not include traditional optical illusions, learning how to decipher them could offer significant benefits to students entering his profession.
“Adding that [optical illusions] to the training would be beneficial,” Green told The Debrief. “It would be a great addition to the world of radiology training.”
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.