Why you see colors that aren't thereHow your brain learns an incorrect rule about reality.

From the show

Brain Perception Illusions

Staring at a specific pattern of colored lines can trick your brain for months. This phenomenon, the McCollough effect, is a long-lasting illusion caused by the adaptation of neurons in your visual cortex. Unlike a typical afterimage, this effect reveals how sensory input can create deep, long-term changes in our perception, blurring the line between a temporary glitch and a learned reality. It's a powerful reminder of how our environment constantly shapes what we see.