We have examined the aspects of the visual scene and the neural responses that correlate with visibility. We have also asked which parts of the brain must be activated for the stimulus to become visible. Our results indicate that spatiotemporal edges generate the strongest percepts and neural responses (bursts of transient firing). These results are confirmed by in vivo optical imaging results that allow us to see the perceptual correlates of visual illusions being processed on the surface of the visual cortex. In addition, our results have predicted several previously unknown visual illusions. However, the activity in the early parts of the visual system does not always correlate with perception, suggesting that higher cortical areas may be necessary for visual awareness of visibility. Finally, we have discovered that the first circuit for binocular integration in the early visual system is surprising in its nature in that, while these binocular neurons are dichoptic for excitation, they are monoptic for inhibition. These results have far reaching consequences for extant data concerning visual awareness based on binocular rivalry experiments, in addition to being critical to understand binocular vision itself.