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.
Here is an awesome example of this effect
Fixate on the moving image below for 30 seconds, then shift your gaze to The Starry Night and watch Vincent Van Gogh’s masterpiece come to life.
Table of Contents
- How does the Motion Aftereffect work?
- Versions of the Motion Aftereffect Illusion
- Illusions like the Motion Aftereffect Illusion
- Discovery of the Motion Aftereffect Illusion
- References and Resources
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How does the Motion Aftereffect work?
The motion aftereffect (MAE) is a visual illusion that occurs when one looks at a moving visual stimulus for an extended period of time, and then looks at a still object. The still object will appear to be moving in the opposite direction of the original stimulus. T
his effect is thought to occur because neurons in the visual system become adapted to the motion of the initial stimulus, and then continue to fire as if the motion were still present even when the stimulus is removed.
This causes the perceived motion of the still object.
MAE can occur with various type of motion such as rotation, translation, expansion and contraction.
Versions of the Motion Aftereffect
The following are some other examples of the Waterfall Illusion
If you focus on the falling water for several seconds, then shift your gaze to a still object, that object will appear to shift upward in the opposite direction of the waterfall
Illusions like the Motion Aftereffect
The following are some illusions that are related to Motion Aftereffect
Motion-induced blindness (MIB) is an optical illusion that occurs when a stationary pattern or image is presented in the presence of a moving pattern or image. The stationary pattern or image appears to disappear or fade, even though it is still present, this phenomenon is called motion-induced blindness.
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.
This occurs because the human visual system adapts to constant stimuli and eventually stops responding to them.
After staring at the cross for several seconds, the dots fade away
After staring at the cross for several seconds, colors fade away
After staring at the dot for several seconds, the colored ring fades away
The Phi phenomenon is the illusion of movement created by the rapid succession of static images or light sources.
It is the perceptual phenomenon that explains how the human brain perceives motion when presented with a sequence of still images or light sources that are displayed in rapid succession.
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 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.
Discovery of the Motion Aftereffect
Some believe that The Motion Aftereffect effect was first observed and noted by Aristotle in approximately 350 BC.
More recently, the motion aftereffect was described by German physicist and physician Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller in 1812.
He observed that after looking at a rotating wheel for a period of time, stationary objects appeared to rotate in the opposite direction. He called this phenomenon the “spinning wheel illusion.”
However, the phenomenon was independently discovered by several other researchers in the 19th century including Peter Mark Roget and Charles Wheatstone.
About The Starry Night
The Starry Night is an oil painting created by Vincent van Gogh in 1889.
The painting depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, just before sunrise, with the addition of an idealized village.
The work is one of the most recognizable in the history of Western culture and is considered to be among Van Gogh’s finest works.
The painting is characterized by its swirling, dynamic sky and the cypress tree at the center of the composition, which is a symbol of eternity and the unrelenting power of nature.
It is currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.
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