In 2022, researchers were able to somewhat answer that question. Our brain doesn't analyze every single visual snapshot. Instead, it has a stabilization mechanism. Our brains perceive the average of what our eyes have seen in the last 15 seconds. It's sort of like living in the past: the brain consolidates all the visual input it receives into one impression every 15 seconds.
Trying to interpret every single visual stimulus that happens around us all the time would simply make us go mad. "If our brains were always updating in real time, the world would feel like a chaotic place with constant fluctuations in light, shadow and movement," the study's authors wrote. "We would feel like we were hallucinating all the time."
That's one of the reasons why we don't notice subtle visual changes, say, a person aging. The researchers claim that this visual smoothing by the brain is also responsible for us not recognizing stunt doubles in movies sometimes. "The brain sticks to the past because the past is a good predictor of the present," they claim.
But the past probably won't help you interpret the images from this list. Still, let us know which ones you liked the best by upvoting them, and don't forget to comment which ones confused the most! Also, if you'd like to see more contextless pics from the r/hmmm subreddit, head over here, here, or here!
