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by Mike Calhoun
Topics: Middle School, Science
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What happens when the eyes see something that the brain knows cannot be factual? In cases like this, the brain has to fabricate a little when making these interpretations! This fun activity can reinforce this phenomenon using simple household items.

What You Need:

  • two small mirrors
  • glue
  • two dowels (or two unsharpened pencils)

What You Do:

Step 1 Have your child glue the two mirrors together, back to back. Make sure they are very careful to not to cut themselves on the mirrors. If the edges of the mirrors are sharp, you may wish to apply tape to them.

Step 2 Your child should then glue the two dowels to the mirrors, one on each side. Be sure to glue the dowels in the center of the mirror. These will serve as “handles.” Once completed have the child hold the mirror in front of him, slightly to one side, by grasping a dowel in each hand.

Step 3 He should then look into one side of the mirror while twisting the hand that is on the other side of the mirror. It will feel pretty weird, because his eyes will be seeing his hand holding the one dowel in one hand and a reflection of that same hand in the mirror.

Step 4 Your child's mind will interpret the reflection of the hand as the real thing. While he is twisting the dowel in the other hand, the brain feels the twisting motion and expects to see that hand moving. When it doesn't move, the mind gets confused!

What Happened? In discussing the results with your child, tell them that the brain constantly receives information from the senses about conditions both inside the body and outside of it. The brain rapidly analyzes this information and then sends out messages that control body functions and actions. In this case the brain was temporary confused and had to “fudge” a little when interpreting what the eyes were seeing. What seemed almost like magic is actually a little slice of neuroscience!