Face Morphing Experiment

Summary

In this episode, Rhett and Link explore a study by psychologist Giovanni Caputo on the effects of staring at faces. They replicate two experiments where participants stare at either their own reflection or each other's faces in dim lighting. The results include strange, sometimes eerie hallucinations such as faces morphing, turning into monsters, or resembling familiar figures. The duo shares their own experiences, adding humor and lightheartedness as they experiment with these bizarre visual effects. This playful yet intriguing exploration delves into how our brains interpret faces under unusual circumstances.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video explores the concept of whether staring at someone's face can lead to hallucinations, referencing scientific studies.
• 🔬 Psychologist Giovanni Caputo from the University of Urbino conducted face-staring experiments, which the hosts replicate for entertainment.
• 🪞 In the first experiment, participants stare at themselves in a dimly lit room using a mirror, and all participants experienced face morphing or dissociation effects.
• 👻 Some people reported seeing strange faces, apparitions, or even deceased loved ones and monsters during the mirror experiment.
• 👁️ The second experiment involved two people staring into each other's eyes in dim lighting, with many seeing deformed or melted faces.
• 🧟 75% of the participants in the eye-staring experiment reported seeing monstrous faces, while 50% saw elements of their own face in their partner's face.
• 💀 One of the hosts saw his face turn into a skeleton, then into a monkey from the original 'Planet of the Apes,' and even a paint-by-numbers painting.
• 👶 The other host experienced his face morphing into a baby face and later his mouth disappearing completely, which he described as 'Flesh Mouth.'
• 🤡 The hosts found the experiments amusing and slightly eerie, with one even seeing the other as Howdy Doody or wearing a Tom Selleck mask.
• 🔄 They encourage viewers to try the experiments themselves and share their experiences, emphasizing the strange and fun nature of the activity.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video discusses the effects of staring at faces, including experiments where people stare at themselves or others in dim lighting and report hallucinations or facial distortions.

What experiment does the video focus on first?

The first experiment involves a person staring at their own reflection in a mirror for 1-2 minutes in dim lighting. This leads participants to report seeing their face morph or other visual distortions.

What results did participants experience in the mirror experiment?

Participants experienced dissociative identity effects, such as their face melting or morphing, seeing apparitions of strange faces, deceased relatives, or monsters.

What is the Dyad Staring Experiment?

The Dyad Staring Experiment involves two people sitting a meter apart, staring into each other’s eyes in a dimly lit room for 10 minutes. Participants reported seeing deformed or distorted faces, and some saw aspects of their own face in their partner’s face.

What percentage of people in the Dyad Staring Experiment saw deformed faces?

90% of the participants saw deformed faces, while 75% saw monsters, and 50% saw aspects of their own face in their partner’s face.

Why does Link say he’s excited about the experiment?

Link mentions that as a kid, he used to stare at his reflection until things started to change, similar to what the participants in the experiment experienced, which makes him excited to replicate it.

What did Rhett see when he first participated in the mirror experiment?

Rhett reported seeing himself become a skeleton within 8 seconds due to the dark lighting, and later saw himself as a character from 'Planet of the Apes.'

What were Link’s experiences during his turn in the mirror experiment?

Link initially saw his face shrink into a 'baby face' with large eyes, and later saw his mouth disappear entirely, as if it were covered by flesh.

What funny comparison did Rhett make during the staring experiment?

Rhett compared Link’s appearance to Howdy Doody, saying Link looked like a marionette puppet, which made Rhett laugh and break focus during the experiment.

What scientific basis is mentioned for these experiments?

The experiments are based on studies conducted by psychologist Giovanni Caputo from the University of Urbino in Italy, focusing on how staring at faces in dim lighting can lead to visual distortions and dissociative identity effects.