Color Illusions

Check out this fun Moving Colorful Circles Illusion. In the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion, the image is completely static, but the shapes and colors appear to move.

If you are interested in learning more about the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion, scroll down to read about it!

Table of Contents

• What is the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion?
• How Does the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion Work?
• Some Similar Illusions
• References and Resources

What is the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion?

The Moving Colorful Circles Illusion is an example of anomalous motion.

Anomalous motion refers to a visual illusion in which a stationary image appears to move or create an illusion of motion. It involves the perception of motion where there is none or a discrepancy between the actual motion and the perceived motion.

Anomalous motion like shown in the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion can occur due to various factors, including conflicting visual cues, spatial interactions, and our brain’s interpretation of the visual input. Here are a few examples of anomalous motion illusions:

1. Rotating Snakes Illusion: The Rotating Snakes Illusion is an example of anomalous motion where static images of interlocking rings appear to rotate or move. The perceived motion is an illusion created by the arrangement of the patterns and the interaction of the visual system’s motion-sensitive neurons.
2. Wagon-Wheel Effect: The Wagon-Wheel Effect occurs when a wheel or rotating object appears to rotate in the opposite direction or at a different speed than it actually is. This effect can be seen in videos or when observing spinning wheels in film or real life.
3. Motion Aftereffect: The Motion Aftereffect, also known as the waterfall illusion, happens when an individual perceives motion in the opposite direction after prolonged exposure to a moving stimulus. For instance, after staring at a downward-flowing waterfall, a stationary scene might appear to move upward.
4. Enigma Illusion: The Enigma Illusion involves a grid of squares with alternating dark and light bars. When the grid is stationary, it can create the perception of waves of motion propagating across the grid.

These examples, along with the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion, demonstrate how our visual system can perceive motion that does not correspond to the actual physical motion or lack thereof. Anomalous motion illusions challenge our understanding of how the brain processes visual information and reveal the complex nature of our visual perception.

How Does the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion Work?

The Moving Colorful Circles Illusion is an example of anomalous motion.

Anomalous motion illusions like the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion work by exploiting the processes involved in visual perception, including motion detection and integration of visual cues. Here’s a simplified explanation of how they work:

1. Motion Detectors: Our visual system contains neurons called motion detectors that are sensitive to changes in visual stimuli over time. These neurons respond to motion in a particular direction and speed.
2. Motion Integration: The brain integrates information from different motion detectors to determine the perceived motion of an object or scene. This integration helps create a coherent and stable perception of the visual world.
3. Conflicting Visual Cues: Anomalous motion illusions arise when there are conflicting visual cues that the brain must interpret. These cues can include patterns, colors, contours, or spatial relationships in the visual stimulus.
4. Neural Adaptation: Prolonged exposure to a particular motion can lead to neural adaptation, where the neurons involved in perceiving that motion become less responsive. This adaptation can create an imbalance in the activity of motion detectors, influencing the perception of subsequent visual stimuli.
5. Perceptual Biases: The brain’s interpretation of visual input is influenced by biases and expectations based on prior experiences and learned associations. These biases can affect how we perceive motion and contribute to anomalous motion illusions.

Some Similar Illusions

The Moving Colorful Circles Illusion is an example of anomalous motion.

There are numerous related illusions that play with our perception and challenge our understanding of visual processing. Here are a few notable examples in addition to the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion:

1. Illusory Motion: Illusory motion illusions create the perception of motion where there is none. The most famous example is the motion of a spinning disk that appears to change direction or speed due to the arrangement of patterns, such as the rotating snakes illusion or the spinning dancer illusion.
2. Size Illusions: Size illusions distort our perception of the size of objects. Examples include the Ebbinghaus illusion, where a central circle appears larger or smaller depending on the size of surrounding circles, and the Ponzo illusion, where two identical lines appear to be different lengths due to the presence of converging lines.
3. Ames Room Illusion: The Ames room is a distorted room that creates an illusion of size and shape. When viewed from a specific angle, people standing in the room appear to dramatically change in size, with one person seeming much larger or smaller than the other.
4. Müller-Lyer Illusion: The Müller-Lyer illusion involves two lines of the same length, one with inward-pointing arrowheads and the other with outward-pointing arrowheads. The line with outward arrowheads appears longer, even though they are the same length.
5. Kanizsa Triangle: The Kanizsa triangle is an illusion where three illusory triangles are perceived even though the actual lines forming the triangles are incomplete or nonexistent. This illusion demonstrates how our brain fills in missing information based on surrounding context.
6. Necker Cube: The Necker cube is a classic ambiguous figure that can be perceived as a three-dimensional cube that alternates in orientation. It demonstrates the brain’s tendency to interpret ambiguous stimuli by switching between possible interpretations.
7. Motion Binding: Motion binding illusions involve perceiving motion where individual elements are stationary. Examples include the apparent motion of stationary dots in the kinetic depth effect and the motion of static images in the motion-induced blindness illusion.

These illusions like the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion highlight the complexity of our visual perception and how our brains interpret visual information. They showcase the influence of context, contrast, motion, and other factors on our visual experiences, often leading to surprising and intriguing perceptual phenomena.

References and Resources – Moving Colorful Circles Illusion

In addition to the Moving Colorful Circles Illusion, check out our complete list of illusions

Check Out these Related Illusions

Orange Pulse, Moving Ball, Drifting Heart, Pulsating Colors, Expanding Blac

Check out this Expanding Black Illusion. If you stare at the black shape in the middle, it will appear to expand and grow! This Expanding Black Illusion works because of a phenomenon known as lateral inhibition.

If you are interested in learning more about the Expanding Black Illusion, scroll down to read about it!

Table of Contents

• What is the Expanding Black Illusion?
• How Does the Expanding Black Illusion Work?
• Some Similar Illusions
• References and Resources

What is the Expanding Black Illusion?

The Expanding Black Illusion works because of a phenomenon known as lateral inhibition.

Lateral inhibition is a neural mechanism that occurs in the sensory systems of many organisms, including humans. It refers to the process by which neighboring sensory cells or neurons inhibit each other’s activity to enhance contrast and sharpen the perception of sensory information.

In the context of vision, lateral inhibition occurs in the retina, specifically in the network of interconnected cells known as the retina’s horizontal cells and amacrine cells. These cells play a role in processing visual information before it is transmitted to the brain.

When light enters the retina, it stimulates photoreceptor cells called rods and cones. The activated photoreceptors transmit signals to neighboring cells, including bipolar cells, which then transmit the signals to ganglion cells that form the optic nerve. However, lateral inhibition occurs before this transmission.

Horizontal cells in the retina receive input from multiple photoreceptors, while amacrine cells receive input from bipolar cells. Through lateral inhibition, these horizontal and amacrine cells inhibit the activity of neighboring cells, specifically those receiving weaker or less intense signals.

This lateral inhibition mechanism enhances the perception of contrast by suppressing the activity of cells that receive less intense stimulation while allowing cells that receive stronger stimulation to transmit their signals more effectively. This leads to an increased difference in activity levels between neighboring cells, enhancing the perception of edges and boundaries in the visual scene.

Lateral inhibition plays a crucial role in visual processing and is one of the mechanisms that contribute to our ability to perceive and distinguish fine details and contrasts in the visual world and is why the Expanding Black illusion works.

How Does the Expanding Black Illusion Work?

The Expanding Black Illusion works because of a phenomenon known as lateral inhibition.

Lateral inhibition works through a series of interactions between interconnected cells in the sensory system. Here’s a simplified explanation of how it works in the context of vision and examples like the Expanding Black Illusion:

1. Photoreceptor Stimulation: When light enters the eye, it stimulates the photoreceptor cells in the retina—specifically, the rods and cones.
2. Signal Transmission: Activated photoreceptor cells transmit signals to neighboring bipolar cells. Bipolar cells serve as an intermediary between the photoreceptors and ganglion cells, which send signals to the brain.
3. Horizontal Cell Interaction: Horizontal cells in the retina receive input from multiple neighboring photoreceptor cells. These horizontal cells perform lateral inhibition by inhibiting the activity of neighboring cells.
4. Inhibition of Weaker Signals: Horizontal cells inhibit the activity of neighboring cells that receive weaker or less intense signals. This inhibition reduces the activity of those cells, making their signal less prominent.
5. Enhancement of Stronger Signals: At the same time, the inhibition of weaker signals allows cells that receive stronger stimulation to transmit their signals more effectively. This enhancement increases the contrast between neighboring cells with stronger signals.
6. Output to Ganglion Cells: The bipolar cells, which have received inputs from photoreceptors and lateral inhibition from horizontal cells, transmit their modified signals to the ganglion cells.
7. Perception of Contrast: The enhanced contrast between neighboring cells is transmitted to the brain via the ganglion cells, contributing to the perception of edges, boundaries, and fine details in the visual scene.

By suppressing the activity of neighboring cells with weaker signals and enhancing the activity of cells with stronger signals, lateral inhibition enhances the perception of contrast and sharpens the representation of visual information. It helps our visual system better distinguish between light and dark areas, enhancing our ability to perceive edges, textures, and fine details in the visual world.

Some Similar Illusions

The Expanding Black Illusion works because of a phenomenon known as lateral inhibition.

Lateral inhibition plays a role in various visual illusions like the the Expanding Black Illusion that exploit the contrast enhancement and edge detection mechanisms in our visual system. Here are a few examples of illusions related to lateral inhibition like the Expanding Black Illusion:

1. Mach Bands: Mach bands are an optical illusion characterized by the perception of light and dark bands at the boundaries between adjacent regions of different intensities. These bands are more pronounced than the actual contrast difference, resulting from lateral inhibition enhancing the perception of contrast.
2. Hermann Grid Illusion: In the Hermann grid illusion, gray dots appear at the intersections of a black grid on a white background. However, when fixating on a specific intersection, the dot seems to disappear due to lateral inhibition and the way our visual system processes the surrounding visual information.
3. Simultaneous Contrast Illusion: Simultaneous contrast illusions occur when the perceived brightness or color of an object is influenced by the surrounding context. For example, placing a gray patch on a dark background makes it appear lighter, while the same gray patch on a light background appears darker. This illusion is a result of lateral inhibition amplifying the contrast between the object and its background.
4. Craik-O’Brien-Cornsweet Illusion: In this illusion, a gradient of color or brightness appears to change abruptly at a boundary where there is no physical change. The perception of the boundary is enhanced due to lateral inhibition, creating a strong contrast where none actually exists.
5. Mach Dichromacy Illusion: In this illusion, a figure composed of two colors appears to be monochromatic when viewed through a small aperture. Lateral inhibition and the selective processing of color information contribute to this illusion, as the brain selectively interprets the inputs from different regions.

These illusions demonstrate how lateral inhibition affects our perception of contrast, brightness, color, and boundaries in visual stimuli. By exploiting these mechanisms, these illusions challenge our perception and highlight the complex processes involved in visual processing.

References and Resources – Expanding Black Illusion

In addition to the the Expanding Black Illusion, check out our complete list of illusions

Check Out these Related Illusions

Orange Pulse, Moving Ball, Drifting Heart, Pulsating Colors

Check out this cool Pulsating Colors Illusion. This Pulsating Colors Illusion is an example of a pulsating illusion where a a stationary image or pattern appears to pulsate or expand and contract.

If you are interested in learning more about the Pulsating Colors Illusion, scroll down to read about it!

Table of Contents

• What is the Pulsating Colors Illusion?
• How Does the Pulsating Colors Illusion Work?
• Some Similar Illusions
• References and Resources

What is the Pulsating Colors Illusion?

The Pulsating Colors Illusion is an example of a pulsating illusion.

Pulsating illusions are visual phenomena in which a stationary image or pattern appears to pulsate or vibrate in an apparent expansion and contraction motion. These illusions create the perception of rhythmic changes in the size, brightness, or intensity of the visual stimulus, even though the stimulus itself is static.

Here are a few examples of pulsating illusions like the Pulsating Colors Illusion:

1. Peripheral Pulsation: This illusion occurs when a high-contrast pattern or image, such as a black and white checkerboard or concentric circles, appears to pulsate or expand and contract at the periphery of our visual field. The edges of the pattern seem to pulsate in an alternating manner, creating an impression of motion.
2. Troxler’s Fading: Troxler’s fading is a phenomenon in which a stationary object disappears or fades from our perception when we fixate our gaze on it for a prolonged period. As we focus on a central point, the surrounding visual stimuli, such as the edges or background, can appear to pulsate, fade, or disappear.
3. Mach Bands: Mach bands are an optical illusion that involves the perception of alternating bands of brightness or darkness along the edges of a gradient or transition in luminance. These bands can appear to pulsate or intensify, creating the illusion of sharp, exaggerated contrast.
4. Hermann Grid Illusion: The Hermann grid illusion features a grid of black squares on a white background with small white dots at the intersections. When viewing the grid, the dots may appear to pulsate or flicker due to the interaction between neighboring squares and the process of lateral inhibition in our visual system.
5. Scintillating Grid Illusion: The scintillating grid illusion consists of an array of white or light-colored dots arranged on a grid pattern on a dark background. When fixating on a specific intersection, the dots surrounding the fixation point may appear to pulsate or scintillate.

Pulsating illusions are thought to arise from interactions between different neural processes involved in contrast perception, lateral inhibition, and adaptation in our visual system. They highlight the dynamic nature of visual perception and how our brain processes and interprets visual information, leading to perceptual experiences of pulsating or rhythmic motion in static stimuli.

How Does the Pulsating Colors Illusion Work?

The Pulsating Colors Illusion is an example of a pulsating illusion.

Pulsating illusions like the Pulsating Colors Illusion work by exploiting various mechanisms and processes within our visual system. While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, there are several theories that help explain how these illusions work. Here are a few possible explanations:

1. Lateral Inhibition: Pulsating illusions, such as the peripheral pulsation or Mach bands, are thought to involve lateral inhibition, which is a fundamental process in our visual system. Lateral inhibition occurs when neurons in the visual system inhibit the activity of neighboring neurons, enhancing the contrast and edge detection. In the presence of high-contrast patterns or gradients, this lateral inhibition can lead to the perception of pulsating or oscillating brightness or intensity along the edges.
2. Adaptation and Contrast: Adaptation plays a role in pulsating illusions as well. Prolonged exposure to a visual stimulus can lead to adaptation, where neurons in the visual system become less responsive to the stimulus. When viewing the static pattern after adaptation, the perception of pulsation or fluctuation arises as the neurons recover from the adaptation state and regain their sensitivity. This recovery process creates a perceptual experience of rhythmic changes in size, brightness, or intensity.
3. Neural Resonance: Some theories propose that pulsating illusions may involve neural resonance, where specific frequencies or spatial patterns of neural activity in the visual system resonate with certain characteristics of the visual stimuli. This resonance could result in oscillatory or pulsating perceptual experiences.
4. Attention and Eye Movements: Attention and eye movements can also influence pulsating illusions. Shifting attention or making small eye movements can affect the perception of the illusion, potentially amplifying or diminishing the pulsating effect.

These explanations suggest that pulsating illusions like the Pulsating Colors Illusion arise from interactions between neural processes related to contrast perception, lateral inhibition, adaptation, and attention within our visual system. These processes contribute to the perception of rhythmic changes in the stimuli, even when the stimuli themselves are static. However, research in this area is ongoing, and further studies are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of pulsating illusions.

Some Similar Illusions

The Pulsating Colors Illusion is an example of a pulsating illusion.

There are several illusions that share similarities with pulsating illusions in terms of their effects on visual perception. Here are a few examples of similar illusions to the Pulsating Colors Illusion:

1. Flicker Illusion: The flicker illusion involves the perception of flickering or pulsating motion in a static image or pattern. It occurs when different parts of an image or pattern are alternated rapidly, creating an illusion of movement or pulsation.
2. Flashed Face Distortion Effect: This illusion occurs when two aligned faces are presented alternately with a rapid flashing pattern. The faces appear to distort and pulsate, with exaggerated facial features and a sense of movement.
3. Phantom Illusion: The phantom illusion is characterized by the perception of a moving object in the absence of actual motion. It occurs when multiple stationary objects, such as discs or dots, are presented at regular intervals, creating the illusion of a smoothly moving object.
4. Neon Color Spreading: Neon color spreading is an illusion where a bright color appears to spread and overlap onto surrounding areas of lower brightness or contrasting color. The color spreading effect can create the perception of pulsating or fluctuating boundaries between different colors or surfaces.
5. Pulfrich Effect: The Pulfrich effect is a perceptual phenomenon that occurs when viewing a pendulum or moving object through a darkened lens or filter. The object appears to swing back and forth in a plane that is not actually present, creating a pulsating or oscillating motion.

These illusions, like the Pulsating Colors Illusion, demonstrate the complex nature of visual perception and how our brains interpret and process visual information. They often involve the interaction of contrast, adaptation, attention, and temporal dynamics within the visual system to create perceptual experiences that deviate from physical reality.

References and Resources – Pulsating Colors Illusion

In addition to the Pulsating Colors Illusion, check out our complete list of illusions

Check Out these Related Illusions

Orange Pulse, Moving Ball, Drifting Heart

In this Tiger Tail Illusion by Akiyoshi Kitaoka, try to catch all the yellow dots in your field of vision at the same time. It’s hard to catch a tiger by the tail, in nearly impossible to keep them in view as they shift depending on where you direct your gaze!

If you are interested in learning more about the Tiger Tail Illusion, scroll down to read more about it.

Table of Contents

• What is the Tiger Tail Illusion?
• How does the Tiger Tail Illusion work?
• Some Similar Illusions
• Discovery of the Tiger Tail Illusion
• References and Resources

What is the Tiger Tail Illusion?

The tiger tail illusion is a visual phenomenon where a stationary object appears to move or wiggle due to the presence of an adjacent pattern of stripes. The illusion is named after the stripes on a tiger’s tail, which may appear to move even when the tail itself is still.

The illusion occurs because the brain’s visual system is trying to make sense of conflicting information from the surrounding patterns of stripes and the stationary object. The brain may perceive the stationary object as moving in the direction of the stripes, creating the illusion of motion.

The illusion is a fascinating example of how the brain can be tricked into perceiving something that is not actually there.

How does the Tiger Tail Illusion Work?

The tiger tail illusion works by exploiting the way the brain processes visual information. When the brain receives conflicting information from the patterns of stripes and the stationary object, it may try to resolve the conflict by perceiving motion.

The stripes surrounding the stationary object create an illusion of motion, known as the motion aftereffect. This illusion occurs because the brain’s neurons that respond to motion become fatigued after processing the stripes’ repeated pattern. When the brain then looks at the stationary object, it still perceives the motion aftereffect as if the object is moving in the opposite direction to the stripes.

This effect is further enhanced by the fact that the stripes on a tiger’s tail are often asymmetrical, with different thicknesses and spacings. These asymmetries create a visual distortion that adds to the illusion of motion.

The illusion works by exploiting the brain’s tendency to perceive motion when presented with conflicting visual information. The repeated pattern of stripes fatigues the motion-sensitive neurons, causing the brain to perceive motion even when there is none.

Some Similar Illusions

There are many illusions that are similar in that they involve the perception of motion or movement where none actually exists. Here are a few examples:

1. The wagon-wheel effect: This illusion occurs when the spokes of a wagon wheel appear to move slowly or even in reverse, despite the wheel itself being stationary. This illusion is caused by the way the brain processes visual information from fast-moving objects.
2. The stroboscopic effect: This illusion occurs when a series of still images presented in rapid succession create the impression of continuous motion. This effect is used in animation and film to create the illusion of movement.
3. The waterfall illusion: This illusion occurs when a static image appears to be moving upward after prolonged viewing of a waterfall. This illusion is caused by the same motion-sensitive neurons becoming fatigued and then responding in the opposite direction.
4. The rotating snakes illusion: This illusion creates the impression of rotating snakes in a stationary image due to the way the eye and brain process the edges of shapes and the contrast between them.

All of these illusions, including the tiger tail illusion, are examples of how the brain can be tricked into perceiving motion or movement where none actually exists, through the manipulation of visual stimuli.

Discovery of the Tiger Tail Illusion

The tiger tail illusion is a well-known optical illusion, but it is unclear who first discovered it. Illusions similar to the tiger tail illusion have been observed and documented for centuries, and the phenomenon has been studied extensively by neuroscientists and vision researchers in recent decades.

One of the earliest documented examples of a similar illusion was described by the Greek philosopher Aristotle in the fourth century BC. In his work “De Anima,” Aristotle noted that when a person looks at a moving river and then looks at a stationary object, the object appears to be moving in the opposite direction to the river.

The modern study of visual illusions began in the late 19th century with the work of psychologists such as Hermann von Helmholtz and Ernst Mach. Since then, researchers have identified and studied many different types of illusions, including the tiger tail illusion.

While the specific origin of the term “tiger tail illusion” is unclear, it is likely that the name was coined in reference to the stripes on a tiger’s tail, which are a well-known example of this type of illusion.

References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions and this awesome Chromatic Vasarely Illusion and this cool Parallel Lines Illusion and awesome Rotating Circles Illusion and Expanding Contracting Illusion

This cool Scintillating Heart Illusion by Akiyoshi Kitaoka is a heart shaped version of the famous scintillating grid illusion. Every time you try to look at one of the darker hearts, it moves! For fun, try counting all the darker hearts!

If you are interested in learning how the Scintillating Heart Illusion works, scroll down to read more about it.

Table of Contents

• What is the Scintillating Heart Illusion ?
• How does the Scintillating Heart Illusion work?
• Some Similar Illusions
• Discovery of the Scintillating Heart Illusion
• References and Resources

What is the Scintillating Heart Illusion?

The Scintillating Heart Illusion is a version of the Scintillating Grid Illusion which is a type of visual illusion that creates the illusion of black dots appearing and disappearing at the intersections of a grid of white lines.

The illusion is created by drawing a grid of white lines on a black background, with small circles placed at the intersection of each line. When the viewer focuses on a single intersection of the grid, the black dots that appear at that intersection seem to disappear as the viewer’s gaze moves towards them. This creates the illusion of the dots appearing and disappearing in a scintillating pattern.

The Scintillating Heart Illusion is thought to occur due to the way that the brain processes visual information. Specifically, the illusion is believed to be caused by the interaction between the neurons in the retina of the eye and the visual processing centers in the brain.

The Scintillating Heart Illusion is similar to other visual illusions that rely on the misperception of spatial relationships and visual processing, such as the Hermann grid illusion and the Mach bands illusion. Like these other illusions, the Scintillating Grid Illusion demonstrates how our perception of visual information can be influenced by subtle cues and contextual information in the environment.

How does the Scintillating Heart Illusion Work?

The Scintillating Heart Illusion works by exploiting the way that the brain processes visual information. Specifically, the illusion relies on the way that the brain processes the contrast between the dark lines of the grid and the light spaces between them.

When we look at the Scintillating Heart Illusion, our brains try to make sense of the contrasting light and dark areas in the image. This leads to the activation of different types of neurons in the retina and the visual processing centers of the brain, which can create the illusion of black dots appearing and disappearing at the intersections of the grid.

The illusion is thought to occur due to a phenomenon called lateral inhibition, which is a process in which neurons in the retina and visual processing centers of the brain inhibit the activity of nearby neurons. This can create a contrast enhancement effect, where areas of high contrast in an image appear more pronounced.

In the case of the Scintillating Heart Illusion, the high-contrast intersection points of the grid cause nearby neurons to inhibit each other’s activity, creating a visual effect that makes it appear as if there are black dots appearing and disappearing at those points.

The Scintillating Heart Illusion is a fascinating example of how our brains can be tricked into perceiving something that is not actually present in the visual stimulus itself.

Some Similar Illusions

There are several similar illusions to the Scintillating Grid Illusion that rely on similar principles of visual processing and perception. Some examples include:

1. The Hermann Grid Illusion: This illusion involves a grid of black squares on a white background. When you stare at the intersection points of the grid, gray blobs seem to appear in the white space between the squares.
2. The Mach Bands Illusion: This illusion creates the impression of light and dark bands along the borders between areas of different brightness or color. The effect is thought to be caused by lateral inhibition in the retina and visual processing centers of the brain.
3. The White’s Illusion: This illusion involves a checkerboard pattern with two gray squares on either side. Despite appearing to be different shades of gray, the squares are actually the same color. This illusion occurs because of the way the brain processes information about light and shadow.

These illusions, like the Scintillating Heart Illusion, demonstrate how our perception of visual information can be influenced by the contextual information in the environment and the way our brains process that information.

Discovery of the Scintillating Heart Illusion

The Scintillating Heart Illusion was created by Akiyoshi Kitaoka, a Japanese psychologist and visual perception expert who is known for his research on visual illusions and his creation of many famous optical illusions. He is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan.

The original Scintillating Grid Illusion was first described in 1994 by E. Lingelbach and R. Sekuler in a paper published in the journal Perception. However, the phenomenon has been known to researchers in the field of visual perception and psychology for many decades and is thought to be related to other well-known visual illusions, such as the Hermann Grid Illusion and Mach Bands Illusion.

References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions and this awesome Chromatic Vasarely Illusion and this cool Parallel Lines Illusion and awesome Tiger Tail Illusion and Expanding Contracting Illusion

In this cool Spinning Circles Illusion by Akiyoshi Kitaoka, the balls appear to rotate slightly. This is caused by the coloration of the shapes and the color gradient illusion. Notice the slight difference in shading on each of the balls and how it differs from ball to ball. This is what makes the illusion work!

If you are interested in learning about the Expanding Spinning Circles Illusion and the color gradient illusion, scroll down to read more about it.

Table of Contents

• What is the Spinning Circles Illusion?
• How does the Spinning Circles Illusion work?
• Some Similar Illusions
• Discovery of the Spinning Circles Illusion
• References and Resources

What is the Spinning Circles Illusion?

The Spinning Circles Illusion is created by the placement of the darker and lighter shades on the balls and the color gradient illusion. The color gradient illusion is a visual phenomenon in which a ring with a varying color gradient appears to be expanding or contracting.

The color gradient illusion works by exploiting the way our brain processes information about color and brightness. When we view the image, our brain interprets the changing color gradient within the ring as a change in brightness or shading, and this can create the illusion of motion.

Specifically, when the color gradient within the ring changes from light to dark (or vice versa), our brain perceives the inner portion of the ring as brighter or darker than the outer portion, and this can create the impression that the ring is expanding or contracting.

The color gradient illusion is just one example of the many ways in which our perception of color, brightness, and contrast can be influenced by contextual cues and prior experience, and it continues to be a topic of interest in the study of visual perception and cognition.

How does the Spinning Circles Illusion Work?

The Spinning Circles Illusion works because the color gradient illusion exploits the way our brain processes information about color and brightness. When we view the image, our brain interprets the changing color gradient within the ring as a change in brightness or shading, and this can create the illusion of motion.

Specifically, when the color gradient within the ring changes from light to dark (or vice versa), our brain perceives the inner portion of the ring as brighter or darker than the outer portion, and this can create the impression that the ring is expanding or contracting.

Our perception of brightness and color is influenced by a number of factors, including the amount of light present in the environment, the spectral composition of the light, and the context in which the visual information is presented. The color gradient illusion is just one example of the many ways in which our perception of color, brightness, and contrast can be influenced by contextual cues and prior experience, and it continues to be a topic of interest in the study of visual perception and cognition.

Some Similar Illusions

There are several illusions that are similar to the color gradient illusion and the Spinning Circles Illusion. Here are a few examples:

1. Checker Shadow Illusion: This illusion involves a checkerboard with a shadow cast across part of it. Despite having the same shade of gray, the square under the shadow appears to be a different shade than the square outside of the shadow.
2. Adelson’s Checkerboard Illusion: This illusion features a checkerboard with two tiles of different shades. The tile that is surrounded by darker tiles appears to be lighter than the tile surrounded by lighter tiles.
3. White’s Illusion: This illusion involves two gray bars with a gradient on each side. Despite having the same shade of gray, the bar with the darker gradient appears to be lighter than the bar with the lighter gradient.
4. Mach Bands Illusion: This illusion involves bands of color that appear at the edges of two different shades of gray. The bands appear to be darker on the lighter side and lighter on the darker side.

All of these illusions exploit the way that our brain processes visual information about brightness, contrast, and shading. They demonstrate that our perception of color and brightness can be influenced by contextual cues and prior experience.

Discovery of the Spinning Circles Illusion

The Spinning Circles Illusion is an example of Peripheral drift which is a visual illusion that occurs when the edges of an object or pattern appear to be moving or vibrating, even though the object itself is stationary. This illusion is created by specific patterns that are designed to interact with the visual system in a way that produces the perception of movement.

The color gradient illusion, as demonstrated in the Spinning Circles Illusion exact origins are unclear. It is likely that the illusion has been observed and appreciated by people for centuries, but it was first described and studied scientifically in the 20th century.

One of the earliest documented studies of the illusion was conducted in the 1960s by the psychologist Roger Shepard. Shepard investigated the illusion and its underlying mechanisms, and his work helped to establish the illusion as a topic of interest in the field of visual perception.

Since then, many other researchers have studied the color gradient illusion and similar visual phenomena, and it continues to be an active area of research today. While it is difficult to attribute the discovery of the illusion to a single individual, it is clear that the illusion has captured the attention of scientists and the public alike, and it remains a popular topic of study and discussion.

References and Resources

In addition to the Spinning Circles Illusion, check out our complete list of illusions and this awesome Crescent Moon Bridge Illusion and this cool Parallel Lines Illusion and awesome Rotating Circles Illusion and Moving Worms Illusion

In these Amazing Chromatic Vasarely Illusions, the center shape will continue to shift its shape depending on where you look. Look at the shape and then shift your gaze from one corner to the next. Every time you shift your gaze the shape will shift. Amazing!

If you are interested in learning more about the Chromatic Vasarely Illusion, scroll down to read more about it.

Table of Contents

• What is the Chromatic Vasarely Illusion?
• How does the Chromatic Vasarely Illusion work?
• Some Similar Illusions
• Discovery of the Chromatic Vasarely Illusion
• References and Resources

What is the Chromatic Vasarely Illusion?

The chromatic Vasarely illusion is a visual illusion that was created by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely. It is an example of op art, or optical art, which uses geometric shapes and patterns to create illusions of movement and depth.

In the original chromatic Vasarely illusion, a series of identical, colored squares are arranged in a grid pattern, with each square surrounded by a black and white checkerboard pattern. When viewed from a distance, the squares appear to be arranged in a series of concentric circles, creating the illusion of depth and movement.

What makes this illusion particularly interesting is that it appears to be in color, despite the fact that the squares are all identical and have no color variation. This is because the black and white checkerboard pattern surrounding each square creates an illusion of color contrast, making the squares appear to be different colors.

The chromatic Vasarely illusion is a fascinating example of how our brains can be tricked into perceiving depth and movement where none exists, and how the use of color and pattern can create striking visual effects.

How does the Chromatic Vasarely Illusion Work?

The chromatic Vasarely illusion works by exploiting the way our brains process visual information. Our brains are wired to interpret visual stimuli in a certain way, and the illusion takes advantage of these processing mechanisms.

In the original version of the illusion, the identical, colored squares are surrounded by a black and white checkerboard pattern. This checkerboard pattern creates an illusion of color contrast, making the squares appear to be different colors. Specifically, the checkerboard pattern creates a border effect called Mach bands, which exaggerate the contrast between adjacent areas of different brightness. This effect makes the colors of the squares appear more vibrant and distinct than they actually are.

Additionally, the squares are arranged in a grid pattern, with each square touching the squares around it. This creates the illusion of concentric circles when viewed from a distance, as our brains interpret the edges of the squares as lines that continue around the circle.

Taken together, these elements create the illusion of depth and movement in the chromatic Vasarely illusion. Our brains perceive the concentric circles as moving and receding into the distance, even though the squares are actually flat and stationary.

Some Similar Illusions

There are many other optical illusions that are similar to the chromatic Vasarely illusion in their use of geometric shapes and patterns to create the illusion of depth and movement. Here are a few examples:

1. The Pinna-Brelstaff illusion: This illusion features a series of spiraling lines that appear to rotate when the viewer moves closer to or further away from the image.
2. The Poggendorff illusion: This illusion uses a series of intersecting lines to create the illusion that two straight lines are not aligned.
3. The Zöllner illusion: This illusion features a series of parallel lines that appear to be distorted when they intersect with angled lines.
4. The Ponzo illusion: This illusion uses converging lines to make two identical objects appear to be different sizes.
5. The Müller-Lyer illusion: This illusion features two lines of equal length that appear to be different lengths due to the presence of angled lines at the ends of the lines.

All of these illusions, work by exploiting the way our brains process visual information and can be used to create striking and memorable visual effects.

Discovery of the Chromatic Vasarely Illusion

The chromatic Vasarely illusion was created by Victor Vasarely, a Hungarian-French artist known for his work in the Op Art movement. Vasarely was born in Hungary in 1906 and studied art in Budapest before moving to Paris in 1930 to continue his studies. He is credited with being one of the founders of Op Art, a movement that used geometric shapes and optical illusions to create visually striking and often disorienting images.

The chromatic Vasarely illusion is one of many optical illusions created by Vasarely, and it is considered one of his most famous works. The illusion was first introduced in the 1960s and has since become a popular example of Op Art and optical illusions in general. Vasarely continued to create art throughout his life, and his work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.

References and Resources

In addition to the Chromatic Vasarely Illusion, check out our complete list of illusions and this awesome Crescent Moon Bridge Illusion and this cool Parallel Lines Illusion and awesome Rotating Circles Illusion and Expanding Contracting Illusion

In this cool Expanding Contracting Illusion by Akiyoshi Kitaoka, the outer ring appears to expand while the inner ring appears to contract. This is caused by the coloration of the shapes and the color gradient illusion. Notice that the darker colors are on the inside of the expanding ring and on the outside of the contracting ring. This is what makes the illusion work!

If you are interested in learning about the Expanding Contracting Illusion and the color gradient illusion, scroll down to read more about it.

Table of Contents

• What is the Expanding Contracting Illusion?
• How does the Expanding Contracting Illusion work?
• Some Similar Illusions
• Discovery of the Expanding Contracting Illusion
• References and Resources

What is the Expanding Contracting Illusion?

The Expanding Contracting Illusion is created by the placement of the darker and lighter colors and the color gradient illusion. The color gradient illusion is a visual phenomenon in which a ring with a varying color gradient appears to be expanding or contracting.

The color gradient illusion works by exploiting the way our brain processes information about color and brightness. When we view the image, our brain interprets the changing color gradient within the ring as a change in brightness or shading, and this can create the illusion of motion.

Specifically, when the color gradient within the ring changes from light to dark (or vice versa), our brain perceives the inner portion of the ring as brighter or darker than the outer portion, and this can create the impression that the ring is expanding or contracting.

The color gradient illusion is just one example of the many ways in which our perception of color, brightness, and contrast can be influenced by contextual cues and prior experience, and it continues to be a topic of interest in the study of visual perception and cognition.

How does the Expanding Contracting Illusion Work?

The Expanding Contracting Illusion works because the color gradient illusion exploits the way our brain processes information about color and brightness. When we view the image, our brain interprets the changing color gradient within the ring as a change in brightness or shading, and this can create the illusion of motion.

Specifically, when the color gradient within the ring changes from light to dark (or vice versa), our brain perceives the inner portion of the ring as brighter or darker than the outer portion, and this can create the impression that the ring is expanding or contracting.

Our perception of brightness and color is influenced by a number of factors, including the amount of light present in the environment, the spectral composition of the light, and the context in which the visual information is presented. The color gradient illusion is just one example of the many ways in which our perception of color, brightness, and contrast can be influenced by contextual cues and prior experience, and it continues to be a topic of interest in the study of visual perception and cognition.

Some Similar Illusions

There are several illusions that are similar to the color gradient illusion and the Expanding Contracting Illusion. Here are a few examples:

1. Checker Shadow Illusion: This illusion involves a checkerboard with a shadow cast across part of it. Despite having the same shade of gray, the square under the shadow appears to be a different shade than the square outside of the shadow.
2. Adelson’s Checkerboard Illusion: This illusion features a checkerboard with two tiles of different shades. The tile that is surrounded by darker tiles appears to be lighter than the tile surrounded by lighter tiles.
3. White’s Illusion: This illusion involves two gray bars with a gradient on each side. Despite having the same shade of gray, the bar with the darker gradient appears to be lighter than the bar with the lighter gradient.
4. Mach Bands Illusion: This illusion involves bands of color that appear at the edges of two different shades of gray. The bands appear to be darker on the lighter side and lighter on the darker side.

All of these illusions exploit the way that our brain processes visual information about brightness, contrast, and shading. They demonstrate that our perception of color and brightness can be influenced by contextual cues and prior experience.

Discovery of the Spiral Illusion

The Expanding Contracting Illusion is an example of Peripheral drift which is a visual illusion that occurs when the edges of an object or pattern appear to be moving or vibrating, even though the object itself is stationary. This illusion is created by specific patterns that are designed to interact with the visual system in a way that produces the perception of movement.

The color gradient illusion, also known as the expanding/contracting ring illusion, is a well-known visual illusion, but its exact origins are unclear. It is likely that the illusion has been observed and appreciated by people for centuries, but it was first described and studied scientifically in the 20th century.

One of the earliest documented studies of the illusion was conducted in the 1960s by the psychologist Roger Shepard. Shepard investigated the illusion and its underlying mechanisms, and his work helped to establish the illusion as a topic of interest in the field of visual perception.

Since then, many other researchers have studied the color gradient illusion and similar visual phenomena, and it continues to be an active area of research today. While it is difficult to attribute the discovery of the illusion to a single individual, it is clear that the illusion has captured the attention of scientists and the public alike, and it remains a popular topic of study and discussion.

References and Resources

In addition to the Expanding Contracting Illusion, check out our complete list of illusions and this awesome Crescent Moon Bridge Illusion and this cool Parallel Lines Illusion and awesome Rotating Circles Illusion and Moving Worms Illusion