Is the Cat Going Up or Down the Stairs?

Is the cat going up or down the stairs?

Is the cat going up or down the stairs?
Is the Cat Going Up or Down the Stairs


Is the Cat Going Up or Down the Stairs?

The “cat going up or down the stairs” illusion is an optical illusion that can be seen in a drawing or photograph of a cat that appears to be either walking up or down a staircase.

The illusion is created by the way the brain processes visual information and interprets the image. The brain tends to perceive objects in an image as being in the same plane and therefore, when presented with an image that is ambiguous, it will interpret the image in a way that makes the most sense based on the context and previous experiences.

In the case of the “cat going up or down the stairs” illusion, the brain interprets the image in a way that is consistent with our expectations of how a cat would move, rather than focusing on the details of the image itself.

Is the Cat Going Up or Down the Stairs is an Ambiguous Illusion

It’sIt’s both anThe “cat going up or down the stairs” illusion is an example of an ambiguous illusion. An ambiguous illusion is an image that can be perceived in multiple ways and the brain have to decide which interpretation is the correct one.

In this case, the image can be perceived as a cat going up or down the stairs, and the brain has to decide which interpretation is the correct one based on the context and previous experiences.

Ambiguous illusions often use symmetry, overlapping or other visual cues to create multiple possible interpretations of the image. Ambiguous illusion like this one is often used in psychology research to study how the brain processes visual information and makes sense of the world around us.

Ambiguous illusions work by creating an image that can be perceived in multiple ways, and the brain has to decide which interpretation is the correct one based on the context and previous experiences.

This happens because the brain is constantly trying to make sense of the world around us by grouping and organizing visual information into meaningful patterns.

When presented with an ambiguous image, the brain has to use its previous experiences, expectations and knowledge to interpret the image.

Ambiguous illusions often use symmetry, overlapping, or other visual cues to create multiple possible interpretations of the image.

The brain’s interpretation of the image is not fixed and can change depending on the context, background information or even the person’s mood.

Ambiguous illusions work by exploiting the brain’s tendency to see familiar patterns and make sense of the world around us.

Is the Cat Going Up or Down the Stairs is also an “Impossible Illusion”

Impossible illusions are a type of optical illusion that depict objects or scenes that are physically impossible in the real world. These illusions often use visual cues such as perspective, shading, and contours to create an image that appears to be three-dimensional, but cannot actually exist in reality. Examples of impossible illusions include the Penrose triangle, the Necker cube, and the impossible staircases.

Impossible illusions are often used in psychology research to study how the brain processes visual information and makes sense of the world around us. These illusions can reveal how the brain organizes and interprets visual information and can help scientists understand how the brain creates our perception of reality.

Unlike ambiguous illusions, impossible illusions are not created by the presence of multiple possible interpretations, but by the presence of visual cues that cannot be reconciled with the laws of physics, geometry or the laws of human anatomy.

Some impossible shapes include the Penrose triangle, impossible cube, and the impossible trident. or the impossible cylinder (pictured and covered in detail below)

Impossible Cylinder for Is the Cat Going Up or Down the Stairs

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How does the Impossible Cylinder Illusion work?

Impossible shapes, also known as impossible figures or impossible objects, are visual illusions that depict objects or scenes that cannot exist in the real world. These shapes often appear to have impossible or contradictory properties, such as impossible angles or impossible connections between parts of the object.

Impossible shapes rely on the way the human brain perceives and interprets visual information. Our brains are wired to recognize patterns and make sense of the world around us, but when presented with an impossible shape, our brains are unable to fully understand the image and interpret it in a logical way. This creates a visual illusion that can appear to be both believable and impossible at the same time.

For example, the Penrose triangle is an impossible shape that appears to be a triangle with impossibly sharp edges and corners. The brain is able to recognize the image as a triangle, but it is unable to fully reconcile the impossible angles and edges, which creates a sense of visual confusion and illusion. The Necker cube is an impossible shape that appears to be a cube with impossibly connected faces. The brain is able to recognize the image as a cube, but it is unable to fully reconcile the impossible connections, which creates a sense of visual confusion and illusion.

In summary, impossible shapes work by taking advantage of the way the brain perceives and interprets visual information, creating a visual illusion that is both believable and impossible at the same time.


Illusions like the Impossible Cylinder Illusion

Paradox illusions are a type of optical illusion that involve images that appear to be self-contradictory or impossible. They typically involve the manipulation of visual cues such as size, shape, movement, and depth perception to create an image that appears to be impossible or defies our understanding of the physical world.

In general, these illusions work by exploiting the way the visual system processes information. The brain relies on certain cues, such as perspective, shading, and texture, to infer the 3D structure of an object. When these cues are manipulated in a certain way, the brain can be fooled into perceiving an impossible or self-contradictory image.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

Discovery of the Impossible Cylinder Illusion

The impossible cylinder it is a common variation of the impossible figures and impossible objects, which were popularized by the artist and mathematician Roger Penrose in the 1950s and 60s. He created a famous impossible object called the Penrose triangle, which is a 2D representation of an impossible object.

Impossible figures and impossible objects have been used in art and graphic design for decades, and it is likely that the impossible trident was created by an artist or designer who was inspired by Penrose’s work and created a variation of it.

References and Resources

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Moving Color Contrast

Perhaps one of the coolest examples of how color contrast illusions can work. If interested, a deep dive on the simultaneous contrast illusion follows.

A Deep Dive on the Simultaneous Contrast Illusion

The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.

Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception


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How does the Simultaneous Contrast Illusion work?

The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area. The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.

The effect is caused by the way the human visual system processes color. When the eyes are fixated on a point, the visual system tends to average the color of the surrounding area. This can cause the visual system to perceive the color of an object as being different from its actual color, depending on the colors of the surrounding area. For example, a gray square placed on a white background will appear lighter than the same gray square placed on a black background, even though the gray square is the same color in both cases.

The simultaneous contrast illusion can be used in art and design to create the illusion of depth or movement, as well as to make certain elements stand out. It is also used in fields such as vision science and cognitive psychology, to understand how visual perception works.

In summary, the simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area, creating the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.

Versions of the Simultaneous Contrast Illusion

The following is an alternate version of the Simultaneous Contrast Illusion:



Simultaneous Contrast Effect




Simultaneous Contrast Effect



Simultaneous Contrast Effect



Simultaneous Contrast Effect


Illusions like the Simultaneous Contrast Illusion

Color illusions work by exploiting the way that the human visual system processes color and light. The human eye is able to detect light in the visible spectrum, which consists of different wavelengths of light that correspond to different colors. The brain then interprets this information to create our perception of color. However, the way the brain perceives color is not always a perfect representation of the physical reality.

There are several factors that can influence the way that the visual system processes color and light, which can lead to the perception of illusions. These factors include:

Contrast: The way that the brain perceives color can be influenced by the surrounding colors and patterns. High-contrast borders around an area of color can cause the brain to interpret the color as spreading or “bleeding” beyond the actual boundaries of the object.

Lighting conditions: The way that the brain perceives color can also be affected by the lighting conditions. For example, when an object is viewed in bright light, the eye’s color receptors may become fatigued, causing the brain to perceive colors differently than they actually are.

Color adaptation: The brain adapts to the colors that we see over time, which can influence the perception of color. For example, if an individual looks at a red object for an extended period of time, the brain will adapt to the red, and when that person looks at a white object, it will appear to have a pinkish hue.

Color constancy: The brain is able to adjust the perception of color based on the context in which it is viewed. This can create illusions where the same color appears to be different depending on the surrounding colors.

Shape use: Some illusions like the Hermann grid illusion or the Cafe Wall illusion, use specific patterns and shapes to manipulate the perception of color and shape.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons

The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  

Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons

The Mach Band Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object has a gradient of color, the edges of the object appear to be darker or lighter than they actually are.

Mach Bands Animation
From Wikimedia Commons

The Chevreul Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When the edges of an object are surrounded by a contrasting color, the edges appear to be a different color than they actually are. Chevreul’s illusion is similar to Mach bands, but they work in different ways. Chevreul’s illusion is an effect on the perception of hue, while Mach bands is an effect on the perception of brightness.

chevreul

The Hermann Grid Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives intersections of lines. When the intersections of a grid of lines are viewed, small gray dots appear at the intersections, even though they are not actually there.



Hermann Grid

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion


The Ishihara Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives colors. When a color is surrounded by a contrasting color, the brain perceives the color to be different than it actually is.

Ishihara Plate 9
From Wikimedia Commons

The flash lag illusion is a visual illusion that is based on the perception of the temporal relationship between a moving object and a flash of light. The illusion occurs when a moving object is followed by a sudden flash of light, and the perceived location of the flash appears to be behind the actual location of the object.

Flash Lag
From Wikimedia Commons

The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of the Simultaneous Contrast Illusion

The illusion is named after Michel Eugène Chevreul, a French chemist and physicist, who first described it in 1839 in his book “The Laws of Contrast of Colors”.

Michel Eugène Chevreul (1786-1889) was a French chemist and physicist who made significant contributions to the field of color theory. He is best known for his work on the nature of color, and the relationship between colors, which he described in his book “The Laws of Contrast of Colors” (1839). He was one of the first to study the perception of color, and the effect of surrounding colors on the perception of a given color. He is particularly known for the discovery of the Chevreul Illusion, a visual effect that creates the appearance of movement or “flicker” in a pattern of alternating light and dark bands.

Chevreul’s work on color perception had a significant influence on the development of color theory, and continues to be studied in fields such as art, design, and psychology. He was also a researcher in other scientific fields such as soap-making and oils, and he developed a method for the analysis of fats and oils, which was widely used in the food industry. He was a professor of chemistry in Paris and a member of the French Academy of Sciences

References and Resources

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Jastrow Illusion

Jastrow

The Jastrow illusion is created by two identical shapes, usually circles, placed side by side, and one appears to be much larger.

The illusion is that the one circle appears to be much larger than the other, but in realty, the shapes are the same size.

Jastrow
The Jastrow Illusion

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How does the Jastrow Illusion work?

The Jastrow illusion works by the way the brain processes the relationship between the two circles.

One theory of why this happens is that the brain tries to find a relationship between the two circles, and when it sees that one is larger than the other, it automatically assumes that the larger circle is farther away and the smaller circle is closer. Because the brain perceives objects that are farther away as being smaller and objects that are closer as being larger, it overcompensates and perceives the larger circle as much larger than it actually is, and the smaller circle as much smaller than it actually is.

Another theory is that the brain is sensitive to the relative size of objects and relies on relative size to infer distance, which is known as size-distance illusion. When the two circles are placed side by side, the relative size of the circles can be used by the brain to infer depth and distance, and this leads to the illusion.

Additionally, the Jastrow illusion is also related to the concept of surround suppression, which is the phenomenon that the visual system is more sensitive to the stimuli in the center of the visual field, than at the periphery. The brain is more sensitive to the stimuli in the center and suppresses the stimuli in the periphery, leading to an illusion of size difference.

It’s worth noting that the Jastrow illusion is not a unique property of human vision, many animals have this ability as well.

Versions of the Jastrow Illusion

The following shows Jastrow Illusion in action:

Jastrow GIF



Illusions like the Jastrow Illusion

The Jastrow illusion is a type of size illusion, also known as a relative size illusion. It is created by placing two identical shapes, usually circles, that are slightly different in size side by side and connecting them with a line.

This illusion is caused by the way the brain processes the relationship between the two shapes, and it is a result of the brain’s tendency to use relative size as a cue for distance and depth perception.

The following are some illusions similar to the Jastrow Illusion:

The Cafe Wall Illusion is a geometric optical illusion that is created by the alignment of parallel lines in a checkerboard pattern. The parallel lines appear to be tilted or slanted, even though they are actually straight.


Cafe Wall Illusion
The Café Wall Illusion

The occlusion illusion is a perceptual phenomenon in which the presence or absence of an object can affect the perception of another object.



The moon illusion involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky. The illusion is an optical illusion and is caused by the way the human brain perceives size and distance.



The Zöllner illusion is a visual illusion in which parallel lines appear to be angled due to the presence of intersecting lines.

The illusion is often used to study the brain’s perception of shape and spatial relationships. It is considered one of the most powerful and striking examples of a geometrical-optical illusion. The perception of the illusion can be explained by the brain’s tendency to group lines together based on their similarity in direction and spacing, which can lead to an overestimation of the angle between the parallel lines.

Zöllner illusion


The Müller-Lyer illusion: This illusion involves lines with arrowheads at the ends, which can make a line appear longer or shorter depending on the direction of the arrowheads.

müller-lyer illusion



The Poggendorff illusion is a visual illusion in which the brain perceives a diagonal line as being interrupted by an object, even though the line is actually continuous. The illusion is created by the misalignment of two parallel lines that are intersected by a third line at a certain angle.


Poggendorff illusion transparent gray bar


The Ebbinghaus illusion (also known as Titchener circles) is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a central circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles. The central circle appears smaller when surrounded by larger circles, and larger when surrounded by smaller circles.





The Wundt illusion is an optical illusion produces an inversed effect compared to the Hering Illusion. The vertical lines are both straight, but they may look as if they are curved inwards.

Wundt Illusion



Discovery of the Jastrow Illusion

The Jastrow illusion is a visual illusion that was first described by the psychologist Joseph Jastrow in 1889.

Joseph Jastrow was an American psychologist and author.

He was born in 1863 in Poland and immigrated to the United States with his family as a child.

He received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and later taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at Brown University.

Jastrow made significant contributions to the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of perception and cognitive psychology.

He is best known for his work on visual illusions, including the Jastrow illusion which is named after him. Jastrow died in 1944.

References and Resources

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Persistence of Vision

Persistence of Vision

Persistence of vision is the phenomenon by which the brain continues to perceive an image even after the image is no longer present.

This occurs because the cells in the retina, called rods and cones, take a brief period of time to “reset” after being stimulated.

As a result, when an image is removed, these cells continue to send signals to the brain for a short period of time, creating the illusion that the image is still present.

Persistence of vision is the scientific explanation behind the afterimage illusion, as well as the illusion of motion in moving pictures such as films and animations.

Persistence of Vision
Persistence of Vision


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How does the Persistence of Vision work?

Persistence of vision works by the way our eyes and brain process visual information. When light enters our eyes, it is absorbed by cells in the retina called rods and cones. These cells then send electrical signals to the brain, which interprets these signals as visual information. The brain is able to process images very quickly, and can hold onto an image for a brief period of time even after it is no longer present. This is known as the “persistence of vision.”

When we watch a movie or animation, for example, the images are presented to us in rapid succession. The brain combines these images and interprets them as a single, continuous image, creating the illusion of motion. This is due to persistence of vision.

Similarly, when we see a light being turned on and off quickly, the brain combines these images and interprets them as a single, continuous light. This is also due to persistence of vision.

Persistence of vision also plays a role in other visual phenomena, such as afterimages, optical illusions and other types of illusions, as well as in some cases of visual hallucinations.

It’s worth noting that persistence of vision is not a unique property of human vision, many animals have this ability as well.

Versions of the Persistence of Vision

There are many examples of persistence of vision in everyday life. Some of these include:

Moving pictures: When we watch films or animations, the rapid succession of still images creates the illusion of motion. This is due to persistence of vision.

Flickering lights: When we see a light being turned on and off quickly, it can create the illusion of a continuous glow. This is also due to persistence of vision.

Spin art: When a spinning object is decorated with different colors, the colors appear to blend together and create new colors. This is due to persistence of vision.

Fireworks: The bright trails left by fireworks are caused by persistence of vision, as the brain continues to see the light even after the firework has exploded.

Afterimages: When we look at a bright light, or an image for an extended period of time, and then look away, we can see an afterimage of that image or light. This is also caused by persistence of vision.

The following are some other examples of Persistence of Vision

Persistence of Vision
Fireflies at Night – Persistent Light Trail


Persistence of Vision
Sparkler at Night – Persistent Tail


Persistence of Vision




After Image afterimage


After Image afterimage





Illusions like Persistence of Vision

Some related illusions include the following:

Afterimage Illusion

The afterimage illusion is a type of visual illusion in which an image continues to appear in the observer’s visual field after the original stimulus has been removed.


After Image afterimage

The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.

Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion
Checker Shadow Illusion


The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.


Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception


The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons


The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  

Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons


The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

Cornsweet illusion
Cornsweet illusion

The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.

Chubb Illusion

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion


The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of the Persistence of Vision

The phenomenon of persistence of vision, has been known for centuries.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were aware of the phenomenon, and it was also described by the ancient Chinese and Arab scholars.

The earliest scientific study of afterimages was done by the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz in the 19th century.

He published a book in 1867 titled “Handbook of Physiological Optics” which gave a detailed explanation of the phenomenon, including the theory that afterimages were caused by the retina’s sensitivity to light.

This study is considered as one of the earliest and most comprehensive explanations of the effect.

References and Resources

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Afterimage Illusion

After Image afterimage

The afterimage illusion is a type of visual illusion in which an image continues to appear in the observer’s visual field after the original stimulus has been removed.

This can occur due to the persistence of neural activity in the visual system, and can take the form of a positive afterimage (an image that is the same color as the original stimulus) or a negative afterimage (an image that is the opposite color of the original stimulus).

Afterimage illusions can be caused by a variety of factors, including the duration and intensity of the original stimulus, and the observer’s individual visual characteristics.

Stare at the image below for 30 seconds and then look to a white surface

After Image afterimage
Afterimage illusion


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How does the Afterimage Illusion work?

The afterimage illusion occurs when an image is viewed for a prolonged period of time and then removed, causing a negative image to appear in the viewer’s mind.

This happens because the cells in the retina, called rods and cones, become fatigued from being stimulated by the same image for a prolonged period.

When the image is removed, these cells continue to send signals to the brain, creating the illusion of a negative image. The phenomenon is also known as a persistence of vision.

Persistence of vision is the phenomenon by which the brain continues to perceive an image even after the image is no longer present. This occurs because the cells in the retina, called rods and cones, take a brief period of time to “reset” after being stimulated. As a result, when an image is removed, these cells continue to send signals to the brain for a short period of time, creating the illusion that the image is still present.

Persistence of vision is the scientific explanation behind the afterimage illusion, as well as the illusion of motion in moving pictures such as films and animations.

Negative vs. Positive Afterimages

A negative afterimage is an optical illusion that occurs when an image is viewed for a prolonged period of time and then removed, causing a reversed or “negative” version of the image to appear in the viewer’s mind.

This happens because the cells in the retina, called rods and cones, become fatigued from being stimulated by the same image for a prolonged period. When the image is removed, these cells continue to send signals to the brain, creating the illusion of a negative image.

The colors in the afterimage are also typically the opposite or complementary colors of the original image viewed. For example, if the original image was red, the afterimage will be green.

A positive afterimage is an optical illusion that occurs when an image is viewed for a prolonged period of time, and then removed, causing a similar version of the image to appear in the viewer’s mind, but with different colors.

This happens because the cells in the retina, called rods and cones, become fatigued from being stimulated by the same image for a prolonged period. When the image is removed, these cells continue to send signals to the brain, creating the illusion of a positive image.

The colors in the afterimage are also typically the similar colors of the original image viewed, but with different intensity or brightness.

Versions of the Afterimage Illusion

The following are an alternate versions of the Afterimage Illusion:



After Image afterimage



After Image afterimage



After Image afterimage
Stare at the center of a single circle for 30 seconds then divert to a white surface. Experiment with the different colors.






Illusions like the Afterimage Illusion

Some related illusions include the following:

The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.

Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion
Checker Shadow Illusion


The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.


Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception


The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons


The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  

Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons


The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

Cornsweet illusion
Cornsweet illusion

The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.

Chubb Illusion

White’s illusion is a visual phenomenon in which two identical gray bars are placed on a background of alternating black and white stripes.

The gray bars appear to be different shades of gray, with the one on the white stripes appearing lighter than the one on the black stripes.

In the image below, both gray bars have the exact same color.

White's Illusion
White’s Illusion

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion


The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of the Afterimage Illusion

The phenomenon of afterimages, also known as persistence of vision, has been known for centuries.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were aware of the phenomenon, and it was also described by the ancient Chinese and Arab scholars.

The earliest scientific study of afterimages was done by the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz in the 19th century.

He published a book in 1867 titled “Handbook of Physiological Optics” which gave a detailed explanation of the phenomenon, including the theory that afterimages were caused by the retina’s sensitivity to light.

This study is considered as one of the earliest and most comprehensive explanations of the afterimage effect.

References and Resources

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Binocular Rivalry

Binocular rivalry

Binocular rivalry is a phenomenon that occurs when slightly different images are presented to each eye simultaneously.

The brain is unable to fuse the two images into a single, coherent image, and instead alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

This can cause the perceived image to flicker or change back and forth between the two images.

Binocular rivalry
Binocular Rivalry


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How does Binocular Rivalry work?

Binocular rivalry occurs when slightly different images are presented to each eye simultaneously. The brain receives input from each eye, but is unable to fuse the two images into a single, coherent image. Instead, it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The exact mechanism by which the brain alternates between the two images is not fully understood, but it is thought to involve neural competition between the two eyes’ input at the level of the primary visual cortex. This competition is thought to be mediated by inhibitory interactions between neurons that are sensitive to the different images.

It’s also been proposed that the alternation between the two images is not purely random, but rather depends on the features of the images, such as their contrast, spatial frequency, and semantic meaning.

Binocular rivalry can be used to study the neural mechanisms of visual perception, depth perception and binocularity. It has been used to investigate the role of attention, top-down processing and adaptation in the perception of rivaling stimuli.

It’s important to note that binocular rivalry is different from binocular summation, which is the phenomenon that occurs when the visual information from the two eyes is combined to produce a single, more robust image.

Difference Between Monocular Rivalry and Binocular Rivalry

Monocular rivalry and binocular rivalry are similar in that they both involve the perception of conflicting images, but they differ in the way the images are presented to the eyes.

Monocular rivalry occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously. In this case, the brain receives input from each eye, but is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

Binocular rivalry, on the other hand, occurs when the same image is presented to both eyes, but the images are slightly different in some way, such as a small shift in position or a slight change in contrast. In this case, the brain is unable to fuse the two images into a single, coherent image, and instead alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The neural mechanisms that underlie monocular and binocular rivalry are thought to be similar, but the specific processes that lead to the perception of the rivaling images may differ. Monocular rivalry is often used to study visual perception and the brain, while binocular rivalry is used to study the neural mechanisms of depth perception, stereopsis and binocularity.

Versions of the Binocular Rivalry

The following are an alternate versions of the Binocular Rivalry:



Binocular rivalry






Binocular rivalry
An image demonstrating binocular rivalry. If you view the image with red-cyan 3D glasses, the text will alternate between Red and Blue
From Wikimedia Commons



Binocular rivalry
Binocular rivalry. If you view the image with red-cyan 3D glasses, the angled Warp and weft will alternate between the Red and the Blue lines.
From Wikimedia Commons



Illusions like Bionocular Rivalry

Binocular rivalry is a type of perceptual illusion. Perceptual illusions are those that involve the brain’s interpretation of sensory input and can include visual, auditory, and other types of illusions.

In the case of monocular rivalry, the brain is interpreting the input from each eye differently, leading to the perception of an image that is different from the physical image presented to the eye.

Some related illusions include the following:

Monocular rivalry is a phenomenon that occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously. The brain is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.

Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion
Checker Shadow Illusion

The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.

Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception

The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons

The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  

Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons

The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.

Chubb Illusion


The Chevreul Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When the edges of an object are surrounded by a contrasting color, the edges appear to be a different color than they actually are. Chevreul’s illusion is similar to Mach bands, but they work in different ways. Chevreul’s illusion is an effect on the perception of hue, while Mach bands is an effect on the perception of brightness.

chevreul

White’s illusion is a visual phenomenon in which two identical gray bars are placed on a background of alternating black and white stripes.

The gray bars appear to be different shades of gray, with the one on the white stripes appearing lighter than the one on the black stripes.

In the image below, both gray bars have the exact same color.

White's Illusion
White’s Illusion

The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

Cornsweet illusion
Cornsweet illusion

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion


The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of Binocular Rivalry

The phenomenon of binocular rivalry has been known for centuries, and has been observed and described by many scientists and philosophers. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the phenomenon began to be studied systematically.

One of the first scientists to study binocular rivalry in a systematic way was the psychologist Joseph Jastrow. He published several articles in the late 19th century describing the phenomenon of binocular rivalry and the different ways it can manifest.

In the early 20th century, the psychologist Edgar Rubin made significant contributions to the study of binocular rivalry and is often credited with introducing the term “binocular rivalry” to describe the phenomenon. He published several articles describing his findings on binocular rivalry, and his work on the topic is still widely cited today.

Other scientists like the physiologist and psychologist Ludimar Hermann, who in 1870 proposed that the perception of one eye’s image is suppressed by the other eye’s image, also contributed to the understanding of binocular rivalry.

Overall, many scientists have contributed to the discovery and understanding of binocular rivalry and it’s still an active area of research.

References and Resources

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Monocular Rivalry

Monocular Rivalry

Monocular rivalry is a phenomenon that occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously.

The brain is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

This can cause the perceived image to flicker or change back and forth between the two images.

Monocular Rivalry
Monocular Rivalry


Table of Contents


How does Monocular Rivalry work?

Monocular rivalry occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously.

The brain receives input from each eye, but is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The exact mechanism by which the brain alternates between the two images is not fully understood.

It is thought to involve inhibitory processes in the visual cortex, which suppress the perception of one image while allowing the perception of the other.

This inhibition can occur at different levels of the visual system, from the retina to the higher-level visual areas of the brain.

It’s also been proposed that the alternation between the two images is not purely random, but rather depends on the features of the images, such as their contrast, spatial frequency, and semantic meaning.

Monocular rivalry can be used to study the neural mechanisms of visual perception and how the brain interprets and constructs visual information.

Difference Between Monocular Rivalry and Binocular Rivalry

Monocular rivalry and binocular rivalry are similar in that they both involve the perception of conflicting images, but they differ in the way the images are presented to the eyes.

Monocular rivalry occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously. In this case, the brain receives input from each eye, but is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

Binocular rivalry, on the other hand, occurs when the same image is presented to both eyes, but the images are slightly different in some way, such as a small shift in position or a slight change in contrast. In this case, the brain is unable to fuse the two images into a single, coherent image, and instead alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The neural mechanisms that underlie monocular and binocular rivalry are thought to be similar, but the specific processes that lead to the perception of the rivaling images may differ. Monocular rivalry is often used to study visual perception and the brain, while binocular rivalry is used to study the neural mechanisms of depth perception, stereopsis and binocularity.

Versions of the Monocular Rivalry

The following are an alternate versions of the Monocular Rivalry:



Monocular Rivalry


Monocular Rivalry



Illusions like the Monocular Rivalry

Monocular rivalry is a type of perceptual illusion. Perceptual illusions are those that involve the brain’s interpretation of sensory input and can include visual, auditory, and other types of illusions.

In the case of monocular rivalry, the brain is interpreting the input from each eye differently, leading to the perception of an image that is different from the physical image presented to the eye.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.

Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion
Checker Shadow Illusion

The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.

Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception

The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons

The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  

Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons

The Mach Band Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object has a gradient of color, the edges of the object appear to be darker or lighter than they actually are.

Mach Bands Animation
From Wikimedia Commons

The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.

Chubb Illusion


The Chevreul Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When the edges of an object are surrounded by a contrasting color, the edges appear to be a different color than they actually are. Chevreul’s illusion is similar to Mach bands, but they work in different ways. Chevreul’s illusion is an effect on the perception of hue, while Mach bands is an effect on the perception of brightness.

chevreul

White’s illusion is a visual phenomenon in which two identical gray bars are placed on a background of alternating black and white stripes.

The gray bars appear to be different shades of gray, with the one on the white stripes appearing lighter than the one on the black stripes.

In the image below, both gray bars have the exact same color.

White's Illusion
White’s Illusion

The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

Cornsweet illusion
Cornsweet illusion

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion


The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of Monocular Rivalry

The phenomenon of monocular rivalry has been known for centuries, and has been observed and described by many scientists and philosophers. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the phenomenon began to be studied systematically.

One of the first scientists to study monocular rivalry in a systematic way was the physiologist and psychologist Franz Christian Boll who in 1833 described the phenomenon of rivaling perceptions in his book “On the physiological causes of the illusion of colors”.

Later, in the late 19th century, the psychologist Joseph Jastrow made detailed observations of monocular rivalry, and published several articles describing his findings.

In the early 20th century, the psychologist Edgar Rubin made significant contributions to the study of monocular rivalry, and is often credited with introducing the term “monocular rivalry” to describe the phenomenon. He published several articles describing his findings on monocular rivalry, and his work on the topic is still widely cited today.

Overall, many scientists have contributed to the discovery and understanding of monocular rivalry and it’s still a active area of research.

References and Resources

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Cornsweet Illusion

Cornsweet illusion

The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

The Cornsweet illusion is created by a gradual change in brightness between two areas, such as a transition from a dark area to a light area. The brain interprets the transition as a difference in brightness, even though the two areas are physically the same brightness.

Cornsweet illusion
Cornsweet illusion


Table of Contents


How does the Cornsweet Illusion work?

The Cornsweet illusion works by taking advantage of the way our visual system processes visual information. The visual system is more sensitive to changes in brightness at the borders of an object than to the brightness of the object itself.

In the Cornsweet illusion, there is a gradual change in brightness between two areas, such as a transition from a dark area to a light area. The brain interprets the transition as a difference in brightness, even though the two areas are physically the same brightness.

The way it works is that the visual system is sensitive to edges and it tends to exaggerate the brightness difference at the border between two adjacent regions. The brain tends to perceive the brightness of one area based on the brightness of the adjacent area, which causes the illusion of a difference in brightness.

Additionally, the visual system is sensitive to the relative brightness of an area, rather than its absolute brightness. The brain compares the relative brightness of an area to the surrounding areas, this causes the brain to perceive the brighter area as less bright and the darker area as brighter, than they actually are.

The Cornsweet illusion is important in the field of visual perception and cognitive psychology because it provides insight into how the brain processes visual information and how it interprets brightness. It also plays a role in areas such as computer graphics and image processing, where it is used to create the illusion.

Versions of the Cornsweet Illusion

The following are an alternate versions of the Cornsweet Illusion:



Cornsweet illusion
Both Sides are the Same Color


Cornsweet illusion
Both Sides are the Same Color


Cornsweet illusion
Both Sides are the Same Color






Illusions like the Cornsweet Illusion

The Cornsweet illusion is a type of visual illusion known as a brightness illusion. A brightness illusion is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

Brightness illusions are important in the field of visual perception and cognitive psychology because they provide insight into how the brain processes visual information and how it interprets brightness. They also play a role in areas such as computer graphics and image processing, where they are used to create the illusion of depth and texture.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.

Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion
Checker Shadow Illusion

The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.

Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception

The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons

The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  

Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons

The Mach Band Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object has a gradient of color, the edges of the object appear to be darker or lighter than they actually are.

Mach Bands Animation
From Wikimedia Commons

The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.

Chubb Illusion


The Chevreul Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When the edges of an object are surrounded by a contrasting color, the edges appear to be a different color than they actually are. Chevreul’s illusion is similar to Mach bands, but they work in different ways. Chevreul’s illusion is an effect on the perception of hue, while Mach bands is an effect on the perception of brightness.

chevreul

White’s illusion is a visual phenomenon in which two identical gray bars are placed on a background of alternating black and white stripes.

The gray bars appear to be different shades of gray, with the one on the white stripes appearing lighter than the one on the black stripes.

In the image below, both gray bars have the exact same color.

White's Illusion
White’s Illusion

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion


The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of the Cornsweet Illusion

The Cornsweet illusion is a visual illusion that was first described by Tom Cornsweet in 1960.

Tom Cornsweet was an American psychologist, known for his work in visual perception. He was a Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. He is best known for his research on the physiology of visual perception and for his descriptions of visual phenomena such as the Cornsweet illusion.

Cornsweet published several papers on various topics related to visual perception, including the perception of brightness, color, and contrast. He is known for his work in the field of visual perception and cognitive psychology, he also worked on the perception of brightness and color, and on the perception of visual illusions.

He was a pioneering researcher in the field of visual perception, and his work continues to be influential in the field today. The Cornsweet illusion, which is named after him, is still widely used in the study of visual perception and cognitive psychology, as well as in areas such as computer graphics and image processing.

Cornsweet passed away in the late 90s, but his contributions to the field of visual perception and cognitive psychology are still widely recognized and respected today.

References and Resources

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Apparent Motion

Phenakistoscope

Apparent motion, sometimes called the phi phenomenon, is the visual illusion of motion created by the rapid presentation of a sequence of still images. It is based on the idea that our eyes and brain perceive a series of still images as a continuous stream of motion. Phi phenomenon is technically a specific case of apparent motion observed when two nearby stimuli are presented in alternation with a relatively high frequency.

The phi phenomenon is the basis for the stroboscopic effect, it is the illusion of motion created by the rapid succession of still images that makes the stroboscopic effect work, where the object appears to be frozen in a single position, even though it is in motion.

The phi phenomenon has been studied extensively in fields such as psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, and it continues to be an important area of research today.


Phenakistoscope
Apparent motion


Table of Contents


How does Apparent Motion work?

Apparent motion, also known as the phi phenomenon, works by taking advantage of the way our eyes and brain process visual information. The human visual system is designed to detect and respond to movement, and it does this by constantly analyzing the images it receives from the eyes.

When a sequence of still images are presented in quick succession, the visual system perceives the images as a single object moving from one position to another. This is because the visual system is constantly analyzing the images, and it uses the information from one image to make predictions about the next image. When these predictions are confirmed, the brain interprets this as a single object moving.

The speed of the apparent motion is determined by the rate at which the images are presented. The faster the rate, the smoother the apparent motion will appear. The brain also uses other cues such as brightness, size, and color to determine the apparent motion.

The phi phenomenon is based on the idea that our eyes and brain perceive a series of still images as a continuous stream of motion, this is the basis for the stroboscopic effect, where the object appears to be frozen in a single position, even though it is in motion, and it is also the basis for motion picture and animation, where a series of still images are projected in rapid succession to create the illusion of motion.

The Related and Often Confused Illusory Motion

Note that sometimes apparent motion is used to refer to illusory motion which is when static image appears to be moving due to the interaction of color contrasts, shapes, and position.

Illusory motion, also known as motion illusion, is the perception of movement in a static image or pattern.

This can occur when the brain is presented with a series of static images that change over time, or when certain visual patterns are arranged in a specific way.

The brain interprets these as if they are moving, even though the image or pattern itself is not actually moving.

There are several theories that try to explain the underlying mechanisms of illusory motion.

One theory is that it is a result of neural adaptation, where the visual system becomes adapted to certain stimuli and continues to respond as if they were present even after they are removed.

Another theory is that it is a result of the brain’s tendency to perceive patterns and to fill in missing information, known as Gestalt principles.

Versions of Apparent Motion

The following are some other examples of Apparent Motion


Apparent motion, also known as the phi phenomenon
Apparent motion
“phi phenomenon”




Phi_Phenomenon-Yellow-Circles-1.gif



Apparent motion, also known as the phi phenomenon
Apparent motion
“phi phenomenon”





Illusions like Apparent Motion

The following are some illusions related to Apparent Motion

In Peripheral Drift illusions, the image or pattern appears to move or drift, even though it is actually stationary. This movement is caused by the brain’s attempt to interpret the image or pattern, which is often complex or ambiguous. The movement can be in any direction, such as horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Peripheral drift illusion jelly bean
From Wikimedia Commons

The rotating snakes is a peripheral drift illusion that consists of a grid of shapes, with some of them appearing to be rotating or undulating. The illusion is created by the interaction of the shapes with the neural processing of the visual system.

Rotating Snakes Autokinetic effect
A Version of Rotating Snakes


With Illusory motion, static image appears to be moving due to the interaction of color contrasts, shapes, and position

Troxler’s fading, also known as Troxler’s effect, is a phenomenon in which a stationary visual stimulus eventually disappears from perception, even though it is still present in the visual field.

Lilac-Chaser_Troxlers Fading


The stroboscopic effect is a visual phenomenon that occurs when a rapidly flashing light is used to illuminate a moving object.

The object appears to be frozen in a single position, even though it is in motion. This is because the flashing light is only on for a brief period of time, and the object is only visible when the light is on.

Stroboscopic effect

The Scintillating Grid Illusion, in which a grid of black and white squares appears to pulsate or “breathe” when viewed from the periphery of the image.

Simultaneous Contrast Illusion

The Motion Aftereffect (also known as the Waterfall Illusion) is a visual illusion experienced after viewing a moving visual stimulus, and then fixating on a stationary stimulus. The stationary stimulus appears to move in the opposite direction to the original stimulus.

For example, fixate on the moving image below for several seconds, then shift you gaze to another surface like a plain wall. You should still be able to see the motion on the static surface.

Motion-Aftereffect



The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion



These illusions are usually caused by the way our eyes process visual information and the way the brain interprets it. They can also be caused by the interaction of different visual elements, such as lines and angles, in the image. They are often used in research on visual perception and the neural basis of perception.


Discovery of the Apparent Motion

The phi phenomenon was first described by the German psychologist Max Wertheimer in 1912.

He observed that if two lights are turned on and off in quick succession, the brain perceives them as a single light moving back and forth. This is the basic principle behind motion pictures and animation, where a series of still images are projected in rapid succession to create the illusion of motion.

The phi phenomenon, also known as apparent motion, was first described by the German psychologist Max Wertheimer in his 1912 paper “Experimental Studies of the Perception of Movement.” In this paper, Wertheimer described a series of experiments in which he used a sequence of still images to create the illusion of motion, and he noted that the brain perceives these images as a single moving object.

Wertheimer’s work on the phi phenomenon was groundbreaking and had a significant impact on the field of psychology, particularly in the area of perception. His findings helped to establish the Gestalt school of psychology, which focuses on the way the brain organizes sensory information.

Wertheimer’s work on the phi phenomenon also laid the foundation for the study of motion perception and animation and helped to pave the way for the later development of motion pictures and television.

It’s worth noting that the phi phenomenon was also independently studied by other researchers such as Kurt Koffka and Wolfgang Köhler, who were also part of the Gestalt school of psychology and they made contributions to the field as well.


References and Resources

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Stroboscopic Effect

Stroboscopic effect

The stroboscopic effect is a visual phenomenon that occurs when a rapidly flashing light is used to illuminate a moving object.

The object appears to be frozen in a single position, even though it is in motion. This is because the flashing light is only on for a brief period of time, and the object is only visible when the light is on.

The stroboscopic effect is often used in photography and video to create the illusion of slow motion or to freeze fast-moving action. It can also be used in scientific research to study the motion of objects

Stroboscopic effect
Stroboscopic Effect

Table of Contents

How does the Stroboscopic Effect work?

The stroboscopic effect works by taking advantage of the way our eyes and brain perceive motion.

When an object is in motion, our eyes see a series of still images, rather than a continuous stream of movement.

The stroboscopic effect takes advantage of this by flashing a light at a rate that is synced with the motion of the object.

As the light flashes, it illuminates the object at specific points in its motion.

Because the light is only on for a brief period of time, the object is only visible when the light is on.

This creates the illusion that the object is frozen in a single position, even though it is in motion.

The frequency of the flashing light, also known as the strobe rate, must match the frequency of the motion of the object in order for the stroboscopic effect to work effectively.

If the strobe rate is too slow, the object will appear to be in motion, and if the strobe rate is too fast, the object will appear to be flickering.

The stroboscopic effect can be used in a variety of ways, such as in photography and video to create the illusion of slow motion or to freeze fast-moving action.

It can also be used in scientific research to study the motion of objects.

Versions of the Stroboscopic Effect Illusion

The following are some another examples of the Stroboscopic Effect

Stroboscopic effect



Stroboscopic effect



Stroboscopic effect



Stroboscopic effect
The frequency of the flash determines if the object moves in one direction, the other, or stays in the same place


Illusions like the Stroboscopic Effect

The stroboscopic effect is a type of motion illusion. It creates the illusion that an object is frozen in a single position, even though it is in motion.

This illusion occurs because of the way our eyes and brain perceive motion. When an object is in motion, our eyes see a series of still images, rather than a continuous stream of movement.

The stroboscopic effect takes advantage of this by flashing a light at a rate that is synced with the motion of the object, so that the object is only visible when the light is on, which creates the illusion that the object is frozen in one position.

The following are some illusions that are related to the Stroboscopic Effect

Troxler’s fading, also known as Troxler’s effect, is a phenomenon in which a stationary visual stimulus, such as a dot or a shape, disappears from perception after a certain period of time.

Lilac-Chaser_Troxlers Fading
From Wikimedia Commons


The Phi phenomenon is the illusion of movement created by the rapid succession of static images or light sources.

The Rotating Snakes is a peripheral drift illusion that consists of a grid of shapes, with some of them appearing to be rotating or undulating. The illusion is created by the interaction of the shapes with the neural processing of the visual system.

Rotating Snakes Autokinetic effect


The wagon wheel illusion is a visual illusion in which a rotating wheel appears to be rotating in the opposite direction or at a different speed than its actual rotation.

Wagon Wheel
Wagon Wheel Illusion
From Wikimedia Commons

The beta movement illusion is a visual illusion in which a series of static images, such as a filmstrip or flipbook, appears to be in motion when viewed in rapid succession.

Beta Movement

The Moiré pattern illusion: This illusion is created by superimposing two similar patterns on top of each other, such as a grid of lines or circles. The resulting pattern appears to be moving or changing.

Moiré_pattern
From Wikimedia Commons

The Scintillating Grid Illusion, in which a grid of black and white squares appears to pulsate or “breathe” when viewed from the periphery of the image.

Simultaneous Contrast Illusion


The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion



These illusions are usually caused by the way our eyes process visual information and the way the brain interprets it. They can also be caused by the interaction of different visual elements, such as lines and angles, in the image. They are often used in research on visual perception and the neural basis of perception.

Discovery of the Stroboscopic Effect

The stroboscopic effect was first discovered by the Belgian scientist Joseph Plateau in 1829. Plateau used a spinning disk with radial slits to create a series of still images of a moving object. He then used a lamp to illuminate the disk at a specific rate, which created the illusion of motion. This was one of the earliest examples of the stroboscopic effect and helped to pave the way for further research in the field of motion perception.

It was also studied by Simon von Stampfer in 1834 and independently by Peter Mark Roget in 1838, where they both noticed the same phenomenon of apparent motion with a spinning disc and periodically flashing light.

The stroboscopic effect has since been studied by many scientists and researchers in fields such as psychology, neuroscience, and physics, and it continues to be an important area of research today.

References and Resources

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