"Pareidolia Unveiled: Ancient Cave Paintings Reveal Mind-Bending Illusions"

A new study suggests that Ice Age cave art, dating back 40,000 years, was influenced by pareidolia, a phenomenon where humans see meaningful shapes in random patterns. Researchers found that many cave paintings in Northern Spain incorporated natural features of the cave walls, indicating that artists were influenced by both pareidolia and their own creativity. The study also explored the role of lighting conditions and advances our understanding of the experiences and influences of Upper Palaeolithic artists.