( CNN ) -- Seeing lightness and color are the simplest sensations the brain has . And yet even at this most basic level we never see the light that falls onto our eyes ( called the retinal image ) or even the real-world source of that image . Rather , neuroscience research tells us that we only ever see what proved useful to see in the past . Illusions are a simple but powerful example of this point . Like all our perceptions , we see illusions because the brain evolved not to see the retinal image , but to resolve the inherent `` meaninglessness '' of that image by continually redefining normality , a normality that is necessarily grounded in relationships , history and ecology . Which is why we innately find regularities in information and reflexively imbue those regularities with value . But it is the value , not the information itself we see . So , tomorrow morning when you open your eyes and look `` out into '' the world , do n't be fooled . You 're in fact looking in . You 're not seeing the world ; you 're seeing a world ... an internal map of value-relations derived from interactions within a particular , narrow context . Another essential point about illusions implied in my TED talk is that they reveal our amazing capacity to entertain mutually exclusive internal realities simultaneously . Learn what TED is all about . For instance , while looking at one of my color illusions ( say the multicolored cube ) you 're aware of one reality : that two tiles look very different , while simultaneously being aware of an opposite reality : that the two tiles are in fact physically the same . This capacity to be an observer of yourself is phenomenal and possibly unique to humans . Indeed , to literally `` see yourself see '' is in my view the principal act of consciousness , which has the power to transform one 's view of the world and of oneself . The importance of the above observations stemming from my own work and that of others transcend neuroscience . They show us in an explicit ( and I hope engaging ) way that our senses are not `` fragile , '' as many would have you believe . They show us instead that we are not outside observers of nature defined in isolation . We are instead indivisible from nature , defined by the trial and error process of interaction , a process in which we can choose to become active agents ( but too often choose not to ) . Understanding this point is I believe critical to personal and social well-being , since the typical barrier to a deeper insight into oneself and others is the overriding , but necessarily false impression that what `` I '' see , what `` I '' hear and what `` I '' know is the world as it really is . But , by `` seeing yourself see , '' in other words by actively exploring how your thoughts , feelings , beliefs and even the colors you see reflect your physical , social and cultural ecology , only then is it possible to understand the source of coherence and conflict within and between individuals . Put another way , only by accepting my own humanity can I accept the humanity of others . `` Seeing myself see '' creates the opportunity for this acceptance . Illusions , then , were not the point of my talk , but simply a tool for encouraging this process . Resolving uncertainty is essential to our survival . Hence our fear of ambiguous situations is palpable -- e.g. , the inability to resolve sensory conflict between the eyes and ears can result in nausea ( like seasickness ) . And yet it is only by embracing the unknown within education , science , art and most importantly within our own private lives that we will find new routes to more enlightened ways of seeing and being . Thus , courage not confidence is at the heart of this process of actively redefining normality , which is the route to compassion and creativity . Encouraging this process by celebrating uncertainty is the raison d'etre of my work ... from the science of human and bee perception , to the art of translating images into music , to the design of a glass windmill for primary schools , to the creation of the `` My School '' educational program ( a framework for teaching and architecture that directly supports creativity , community choice and compassion ) , even to giving a talk at TED . By providing relevant , tangible and accessible frameworks for others to take part in the process of discovery , I hope -- in a very modest way -- that my work will help foster a more empathetic view of nature and human nature . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Beau Lotto .
R. Michael Lotto : We only ever see what was useful to see in the past . But when seeing , we must be aware of one reality and an opposite reality , he says . Lotto : To literally ` ` ' yourself see '' is the principal act of consciousness . Let 's talk first of weekly series on CNN.com : Ted Talk ##s .