These findings represent a new direction in the search for the neural code – that is, how information is encoded in the brain – which, unlike the ubiquitous genetic code, probably varies from one brain region to another. The findings show that the retinal code results from a dynamic process in which the brain interacts with the external reality it encounters though the senses. They explain why it takes time to recognize a blurred object or to figure out optical illusions – for example, to spot a ‘hidden’ Dalmatian amidst black patches on a white surface: Grasping such complex images requires scanning with the eyes. Once human vision – from eye movement to neural encoding – is better understood, it may be possible to develop efficient artificial aids for the visually impaired and to teach robots to catch up with humans in recognizing objects under challenging conditions.