The Thatcher Effect

The Thatcher Effect is a visual illusion that occurs when a face is inverted, causing our brains to struggle with recognizing it. However, if only the eyes and mouth of the face are inverted while the face remains upright, our brain perceives the image as normal. This effect was named after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was used as a subject in early experiments. The Thatcher Effect demonstrates the complexity of facial recognition and how our brains interpret visual information. It highlights the importance of understanding how our brains process visual stimuli and the role that context and perspective play in our perception of reality.