Eyes · PerceptionThe stopped clock
After a rapid eye movement, the first new image seems visible for slightly longer.
Frequency: Varies by individualPerception
Eyes · Perception
Eyes · PerceptionFloaters in vision
Threads or dots seem to move through the visual field, especially against a bright background.
Frequency: Common
Whole Body · PerceptionSide stitch
A stabbing pain under the ribs at the side during endurance exercise.
Frequency: Common
Brain · PerceptionMissing a major change
Even conspicuous changes can go unnoticed, especially when an interruption masks their visual change signals.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Nerves · PerceptionThe rubber hand suddenly feels like mine
Synchronous seeing and touch can make an artificial hand temporarily seem part of one’s own body.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Mouth & Throat · PerceptionRetronasal smelling
During chewing, aromas travel from the mouth into the nasal cavity.
Frequency: Common
Heart & Circulation · PerceptionSeeing black on standing up
Brief spots of light or darkening of vision can occur when standing up quickly.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionThe invisible gorilla
People focused on a task sometimes do not consciously notice unexpected visible events.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Eyes · PerceptionThe blind spot
At the point where the optic nerve exits, there are no photoreceptors; the brain fills in the gap.
Frequency: Common
Ears · PerceptionBurning red outer ears
Rare attacks combine redness of the outer ear with burning pain.
Frequency: Rare
Muscles · PerceptionDelayed onset muscle soreness
Muscle pain and stiffness hours to days after unfamiliar exertion.
Frequency: Common
Brain · PerceptionSmall feels heavy
Two objects of the same weight can feel different in weight when one is smaller.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Heart & Circulation · PerceptionPalpitations
The heartbeat may be perceived as pounding, fluttering, or skipped beats.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Eyes · PerceptionAfterimages
After looking at a vivid color field, a short-lived afterimage in another, roughly opposite color can appear.
Frequency: Common
Ears · PerceptionWhen lips change what you hear
Conflicting mouth movements and speech sounds can produce a third perceived sound.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionFaces in clouds
The visual system recognizes familiar patterns in random forms.
Frequency: Common
Nose · PerceptionOlfactory adaptation
A smell can seem weaker after a few minutes.
Frequency: Common
Internal Organs · PerceptionAsparagus urine odor
After eating asparagus, urine can have a noticeable smell.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Eyes · PerceptionLight without light
Phosphenes are sensations of light without a corresponding external light source; they can arise in different parts of the visual system.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Ears · PerceptionThe voice from the puppet
The brain often assigns a sound to the visible source that is moving.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Bones & Joints · PerceptionMorning stiffness
Joints can feel stiff at first after resting.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionDéjà vu
A new situation can briefly feel familiar even when no real memory can be found.
Frequency: Common
Eyes · PerceptionBright dots in the blue field
Against a blue sky, tiny bright dots can move along winding paths.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionThe familiar feels strange
A familiar word or situation can briefly seem strange; repeating a word can induce this in an experiment.
Frequency: Frequency unclear
Eyes · PerceptionThe fading surroundings
With steady fixation, low-contrast stationary stimuli can gradually fade from perception.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionIt is on the tip of my tongue
You know that you know a word but temporarily cannot retrieve it.
Frequency: Common
Nerves · PerceptionWhen cold and warm burn
Simultaneous warm and cold stimuli can paradoxically feel like burning heat.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Eyes · PerceptionThe waterfall moves backward
After looking at movement for a while, a stationary pattern seems to flow in the opposite direction.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionImages at the threshold of sleep
Brief images, voices, or bodily sensations can arise while falling asleep.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Eyes · Perception3D from two images
The brain combines the slightly different images from both eyes into depth perception.
Frequency: Common
Brain · PerceptionLucid dreaming
During a dream, a person may realize that they are dreaming; some then report limited control.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Ears · PerceptionAuditory continuity illusion
An interrupted tone or speech sound can seem to continue when a suitable noise masks the gap.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Nerves · PerceptionPhantom limb sensation
After an amputation, sensations can seem to come from the missing body part.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionSynesthesia
In synesthesia, one stimulus reliably triggers an additional, unusual perception, such as seeing color with letters.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionBlindsight
After certain injuries to the visual cortex, people may respond to stimuli without consciously seeing them.
Frequency: Rare
Brain · PerceptionProsopagnosia
In prosopagnosia, recognizing familiar faces is severely impaired even though visual acuity may be normal.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Brain · PerceptionAphantasia
In aphantasia, conscious voluntary visual imagery is absent; knowledge and thinking remain possible.
Frequency: Varies by individual
Mouth & Throat · PerceptionGarlic breath
Garlic odor can remain on the breath for hours.
Frequency: CommonSurprisingly quiet here.
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