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Monkeys fall for visual illusion
bbc ^ | 25 June 2009 | Victoria Gill

Posted on 06/26/2009 6:12:12 PM PDT by JoeProBono

A visual illusion has provided clues about how monkeys recognise faces. In a study, rhesus monkeys responded to the "Thatcher effect", a strange phenomenon that makes it difficult to detect changes in an upside down face.

The study, in the journal Current Biology, is the first to show this effect in non-human animals. The authors say this suggests that the ability to identify a familiar face may have evolved in an ancestor common to humans and rhesus monkeys. The Thatcher effect is named after Margaret Thatcher, because images of the former UK prime minister's face were used its first demonstration, in experiments with humans. A "thatcherised" image of a face has its mouth and eyes inverted relative to the rest of the face.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: illusion; monkey
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To: JoeProBono

Well, I had my martini ... the monkey picture is cute.


21 posted on 06/26/2009 8:24:49 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: MHGinTN

22 posted on 06/26/2009 8:31:03 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

That’s an Orangutan ... with one, two, or more olives in it’s sights.


23 posted on 06/26/2009 8:35:42 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: MHGinTN

24 posted on 06/26/2009 8:38:47 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

Is that “Dear Leader’s” son?


25 posted on 06/26/2009 9:12:18 PM PDT by pankot
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To: JoeProBono

26 posted on 06/26/2009 9:58:35 PM PDT by Brother Cracker
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