With Illusory motion, static image appears to be moving due to the interaction of color contrasts, shapes, and position.
Table of Contents
- How does Illusory Motion work?
- Versions of Illusory Motion
- Illusions like Illusory Motion
- Discovery of Illusory Motion
- References and Resources
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How does Illusory Motion work?
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 Illusory Motion
The following are some other examples of Illusory Motion
Illusions like Illusory Motion
The following are some illusions related to Illusory 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Hermann Grid Illusion, in which the intersections of a white grid on a black background appear to be gray, even though they are actually the same color as the background.
The Zöllner Illusion, in which parallel lines appear to be tilted or bent when intersected by diagonal lines.
The Fraser Spiral Illusion, in which a pattern of short, curved lines appears to form a spiral.
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.
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 Illusory Motion
It is not clear who first discovered illusory motion. Some credit Aristotle in approximately 350 BC.
But these type of illusions have been observed and studied by various researchers over time, and many studies have contributed to the understanding of the phenomenon.
For example, peripheral drift illusions have been observed since the early 20th century and have been studied by various researchers in the field of visual perception, including scientists, psychologists, and neuroscientists.
Some of the early studies on peripheral drift illusions were conducted by the German physiologist Ernst Mach in the late 19th century, and later by the German psychologist Max Wertheimer in the early 20th century.
In the 20th century, several scientists and researchers have made significant contributions to the understanding of peripheral drift illusions and the underlying neural mechanisms, such as the American psychologist J.J. Gibson, the American neuroscientist David Hubel, and the British neuroscientist Melvyn Goodale.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.