As you read this, your eyes are sending information to the part of your brain called the visual cortex. How does this area shape what you see?

How it Works

The Brain and the Eye

Vision doesn't happen with the eyes alone. Instead, many parts of your brain work together. Your eyes send patterns of light to the brain in the form of electrical signals. One set of brain cells takes them in and relays them to other cells down the line that sense shape, color, or movement. Bit by bit, your brain puts together the scene that you see and finds meaning in the image.

Do you recognize these people?

A special part of the brain perks up whenever a human face comes into view. Neurons in this region, called the fusiform face area, help you recognize familiar people by sensing precisely how their features are arranged.

You can identify many faces in an instant, even when you don't see clearly.