Brain

Your Eyes Fool Your Ears With The McGurk Effect

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The McGurk is an interesting illusion that involves both sight and sound. It tricks your brain into hearing the same sound differently based on what you are lip-reading as a person is saying it. For example, a "bah" sound will actually sound like "fah" if you watch the sound come out in synchronization with someone mouthing "fah." In this illusion, what you see overrides what you hear.

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Try The McGurk Effect! - Horizon: Is Seeing Believing? - BBC Two
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Key Facts In This Video

  1. The McGurk Effect tricks your brain into hearing different sounds based on how someone's lips are moving. 01:07

  2. The McGurk Effect works whether or not you are aware of how it works. 02:03

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