The human visual system described through visual illusions

Visual illusions have always been a fascinating subject of study. However, they are not just fascinating: they reveal insights into an understanding of our vision system. In this chapter, we show a selection of colour illusions, representative of various mechanisms of our visual system. The visual process begins in the eyes: the receptive fields situated on the retina enhance the detection of edges, and continue to our brain. A range of mechanisms then takes place, including colour constancy, simultaneous contrast and assimilation. These contribute to the complex visual process that ensures a robust sensing of our world.