“Brightness illusions drive a neuronal response in the primary visual cortex under top down modulation” by Masataka Watanabe et al. Nature Communications nature.com/articles/s41467-0… 3/3

Mice Fooled by Optical Illusions: New Insights into Brain Function Mice are capable of perceiving neon color spreading, a type of visual illusion previously studied only in humans. The study is the first to use both electrophysiology and optogenetics to examine the illusion's effect on mice. This research sheds light on which neuronal levels are crucial for processing the perception of brightness, revealing that while the primary visual cortex (V1) reacts to visual stimuli generally, the secondary visual cortex (V2) plays a specific role in enhancing the illusion. These findings not only demonstrate that mice can be used to study complex perceptual phenomena but also pave the way for further exploration into the neural basis of consciousness and sensory perception. 1/3

Mice Fooled by Optical Illusions: New Insights into Brain Function Mice can experience visual illusions, revealing new layers of brain function! Using electrophysiology and optogenetics, researchers uncover how neurons orchestrate the perception of illusions. A step closer to understanding consciousness? neurosciencenews.com/optical… 2/2