Museum of Science Unveils Perception Playground, Interactive Exhibit Exploring Secrets of Human Perception

New exhibit opens in April as part of the Museum’s yearlong Being Human spotlight

BOSTON, MA – The Museum of Science, Boston announced the opening of Perception Playground, a new exhibit that invites visitors to explore the fascinating ways our brains interpret the world around us. Opening April 19, this interactive experience is a cornerstone of the Museum’s yearlong Being Human spotlight, dedicated to the human experience. Tickets are available at mos.org.

In Perception Playground, visitors will step into a world full of illusions and effects that engage different senses and reveal the mechanisms behind human perception. The exhibit transforms scientific research findings into interactive activities, allowing visitors to conduct their own investigations and experience firsthand how the brain constructs reality. Perception Playground illuminates three fundamental aspects of human perception: how our brains interpret sensory information to construct our view of the world; how factors beyond immediate sensory input (like prior experiences, expectations, and context) influence our perceptions; and how perceptual experiences can vary between individuals.

“Perception Playground invites visitors to enter a whimsical world of sensory exploration. Whether you choose to challenge how your brain perceives smells, attempt to touch your own nose, feel the illusion of self-motion, or guess your friend’s movement, you will find yourself reconsidering how you come to understand both your surroundings and yourself,” said Tim Porter, senior vice president of exhibits, research, and collections at the Museum of Science. “As a centerpiece of our Being Human spotlight, this exhibit provides a wonderful opportunity to visit with family and friends, have fun experimenting, and pause for a moment to consider what it means to be human.”

The bilingual (English/Spanish) exhibit features a variety of multisensory stations, ensuring participation options for visitors using different senses. Special animated videos featuring charming, playful characters will guide visitors through many of the experiences, making complex concepts more engaging. Among the experiences, visitors can:

• Try to visually detect changes in a scene—and be amazed by how many obvious changes they may miss.
• Smell different scents and decide whether they are pleasant or unpleasant, revealing how perception is shaped by context and expectation.
• Discover how their brains perceive sounds that don’t actually exist.
• Experience the illusion of self-motion, questioning their own sense of stability and movement.
• Explore tactile illusions and effects related to weight, language, temperature, and social perception.

Designed to engage visitors through a variety of senses, Perception Playground offers an inclusive experience that goes beyond traditional optical illusions. The new exhibit includes activities for all ages and abilities, with high and low sensory areas, and opportunities to pause and reflect. 

Perception Playground encourages visitors to try out the illusions and effects for themselves and then invite family and friends to try along with them to see how their experiences are the same or different. This social opportunity highlights a key aspect of being human—that individuals may experience different perceptions in response to the same stimulus. 

Perception Playground opens on April 19. The exhibit is included with Exhibit Halls admission. All visitors, including members, holders of MA EBT/WIC, ConnectorCare cards, and other free/discounted passes, can reserve tickets in advance either online at mos.org or by phoning 617-723-2500.