These cool Scrolling Illusions have an illusory effect when they are moving. If you scroll up and down the screen, you’ll see the shapes move or see new shapes appear.
Give these scrolling illusions a try yourself, and if you are interested, scroll down a bit more to read more about scrolling illusions.
Can you see it?
Table of Contents
- What are Scrolling Illusions?
- How do Scrolling Illusions work?
- Some Similar Illusions
- Discovery of Scrolling Illusions
- References and Resources
What are Scrolling Illusions?
Scrolling illusions are a type of visual illusion that occurs when a person views a moving or scrolling pattern, image or animation that creates a false perception of motion, depth, or shape. These illusions occur because our brains try to make sense of the rapidly changing visual information that is presented to our eyes.
One example of a scrolling illusion is the “rotating snakes” illusion, where a static image of black and white snakes appears to be moving and rotating when the image is scrolled up and down on a screen. Another example is the “wavy motion illusion,” where a scrolling pattern of black and white stripes appears to be moving in a wave-like motion, even though the pattern is actually static.
These illusions can be used in art and design to create dynamic and engaging visual experiences, and they can also be used in neuroscience research to study the mechanisms of visual perception and motion processing in the brain.
How do Scrolling Illusions Work?
They work by manipulating the way our visual system processes motion and depth cues. When we view a scrolling pattern, our brain tries to make sense of the rapidly changing visual information by extrapolating the motion and shape of the pattern over time.
One mechanism that contributes to scrolling illusions is the phi phenomenon, which is the perception of motion that occurs when two or more static images are presented in rapid succession. In the case of scrolling illusions, the rapid succession of images is created by scrolling the image on a screen. This rapid succession of images creates the illusion of motion in the pattern.
Another mechanism that contributes to is the use of conflicting depth cues. When scrolling patterns contain conflicting depth cues, such as changes in color, contrast, or texture, our visual system has difficulty resolving the motion and shape of the pattern. This ambiguity in the depth cues can create the illusion of motion in the pattern.
In addition to these mechanisms, scrolling illusions may also be influenced by top-down processes, such as attention and expectation. For example, if we expect to see motion in a scrolling pattern, our brain may be more likely to perceive motion, even if the pattern does not contain explicit depth cues.
Overall, scrolling illusions are a fascinating example of how our brain processes visual information and can be used to study the mechanisms of visual perception and motion processing.
Some Similar Illusions
There are many different types of visual illusions that are similar to scrolling illusions in that they manipulate our perception of motion and depth cues. Here are a few examples:
- Motion illusions: These illusions create the perception of motion in a static image. One example is the “motion aftereffect,” where prolonged viewing of a moving pattern can create the illusion of motion in a stationary object.
- Stereograms: These are two-dimensional images that use stereoscopic depth cues to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object. One popular type of stereogram is the “Magic Eye” image, where a hidden 3D image can be seen by focusing on a repeated pattern in the image.
- Optical illusions: These illusions create an image that is different from the physical reality of the object being depicted.
- Ambiguous figures: These are images that can be interpreted in more than one way, depending on how the viewer perceives the shape and orientation of the objects in the image. One example is the “Necker cube,” which can be perceived as a cube that is oriented in two different directions.
Overall, visual illusions are a fascinating way to explore how our brain processes visual information and can provide insights into the mechanisms of perception and cognition.
Discovery of Scrolling Illusions
It’s difficult to attribute the discovery of scrolling illusions to a single individual, as these illusions have been observed and studied by many researchers in the field of visual perception and neuroscience over the years.
One of the earliest documented examples of a scrolling illusion is the “wagon-wheel effect,” which is the perception of backwards motion in a rotating wagon wheel when viewed through a film camera. This effect was first described by the photographer Eadweard Muybridge in the late 1800s.
More recent studies have been conducted by researchers such as Akiyoshi Kitaoka, Stuart Anstis, and Michael Bach, among others. These researchers have used scrolling illusions to study various aspects of visual perception, such as motion processing, depth perception, and visual attention.
Overall, the study of these illusions has been a collaborative effort among many researchers over the years, and these illusions continue to be a fascinating topic of research in the field of visual perception.
References and Resources – Scrolling Illusions
Check out our complete list of illusions.