Cool Peripheral Drift Illusion

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This Cool Peripheral Drift Illusion is a 100% static image. It only appears to move due to an illusion called Peripheral Drift Illusion.

If you are interested to learn more about these types of Illusions, scroll down past the image to read all about it.

peripheral drift illusion


Table of Contents

What is a Peripheral Drift Illusion?

The peripheral drift illusion is a visual illusion that occurs when stationary patterns of high contrast, such as black and white stripes or grids, appear to drift or move in a particular direction when viewed in the peripheral vision. This illusion is believed to be caused by the way the brain processes visual information from the retina.

The illusion is thought to be related to the way the neurons in the visual system respond to certain types of visual stimuli. When viewing a pattern of high contrast, the neurons in the retina and visual cortex respond by firing in a particular way that creates the illusion of movement. This can cause the pattern to appear to be in motion, even though it is actually stationary.

This illusion is often used in scientific studies to investigate the mechanisms of visual perception and to explore how the brain processes visual information. It is also a popular subject for optical art and other forms of visual art, as it can create striking and unusual visual effects.

How do Peripheral Drift Illusions Work?

The peripheral drift illusion is a visual phenomenon that occurs when stationary patterns of high contrast appear to move or drift in a particular direction when viewed in the peripheral vision. This illusion is thought to be caused by the way the neurons in the visual system respond to certain types of visual stimuli.

When viewing a stationary pattern of high contrast, such as black and white stripes or grids, the neurons in the retina and visual cortex respond by firing in a way that creates the illusion of movement. These neurons are sensitive to changes in contrast and edge orientation, and when these properties are presented in a particular way, they can create the perception of motion.

One theory suggests that the peripheral drift illusion is caused by the interactions between neurons in the visual cortex that respond to different orientations of edges in the visual field. When the orientation of the edges in the pattern changes, these neurons fire in a way that creates the perception of movement.

Another theory suggests that the illusion is caused by the way the brain processes information from the retina. The retina sends signals to the brain that are influenced by the movement of the eye. When the eye is moving, these signals are suppressed, which can create the perception of stationary objects appearing to move in the opposite direction.

Overall, the exact mechanisms behind the these illusions are not fully understood, but it is clear that it is related to the way the neurons in the visual system respond to certain types of visual stimuli.

Some Similar Illusions

There are several illusions that are similar to the peripheral drift illusion. These include:

  1. Motion aftereffect: This illusion occurs when you stare at a moving pattern for a period of time, and then look at a stationary object. The object will appear to move in the opposite direction of the original pattern.
  2. Waterfall illusion: This illusion is similar to the motion aftereffect but involves a continuous stream of motion. When you stare at a waterfall for a period of time, the stationary rocks next to it may appear to move in the opposite direction.
  3. Pinna-Brelstaff illusion: This illusion involves a spiral pattern that appears to rotate when you move your head. However, the illusion is actually created by the way the pattern is designed and can occur even when you’re not moving.
  4. Rotating snakes illusion: This illusion involves a series of interlocking circles that appear to rotate even though the image is static.
  5. Café wall illusion: This illusion involves a pattern of black and white tiles that appear to be slanted, even though they are actually straight.

All of these illusions, like the peripheral drift illusion, are caused by the way the neurons in the visual system respond to certain types of visual stimuli. They are all examples of how the brain can be tricked into perceiving motion or other distortions in static images.

Discovery of Peripheral Drift Illusion

The peripheral drift illusion is a visual phenomenon that has been observed and studied by many researchers over the years, and it is not attributed to any single discoverer.

The peripheral drift illusion was actually first described by Jocelyn Faubert in 1991. Faubert is a Canadian visual neuroscientist who first observed the illusion while studying the perception of complex motion patterns. He named the phenomenon “drifting texture” and published his findings in the journal Vision Research in 1991.

Faubert’s work on the peripheral drift illusion was important because it helped to highlight the importance of studying visual processing at the level of the visual system rather than just focusing on the properties of individual stimuli. Since Faubert’s initial description of the phenomenon, the peripheral drift illusion has become an important tool for studying the mechanisms of visual perception and has led to many insights into how the brain processes visual information.


References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.