Pinna’s Overlapping Illusion

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The Pinna Overlapping Illusion is really a set of concentric circles, but the illusion makes it appear that the circles overlap.

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

Pinna Overlapping Illusion
Pinna Overlapping Illusion


Table of Contents

What is the Pinna’s Overlapping Illusion?

Pinna’s Overlapping Illusion involves concentric circles that appear to overlap but don’t actually overlap. The illusion is created by interlocking pairs of black and white wavy lines, which are arranged to form a circular pattern of alternating black and white rings. Although the rings appear to overlap in some areas, they actually do not. Instead, the illusion is created by the way the lines are interlocked and how the alternating black and white rings interact with each other.

The perception of motion and swirling patterns in the Pinna’s overlapping illusion is thought to arise from the way the visual system processes information about contrast, luminance, and motion. The illusion also seems to involve the brain’s ability to fill in missing information, and to make assumptions about the shape and arrangement of objects in the visual field.

Overall, the Pinna’s operlapping illusion is a fascinating example of how the brain can be tricked into perceiving complex patterns and motion in static images, and it highlights the complex nature of visual perception and cognition.

How does the Pinna’s Overlapping Illusion Work?

The Pinna’s overlapping illusion is created by the interaction between pairs of interlocking black and white wavy lines, which are arranged to form a circular pattern of alternating black and white rings. The illusion occurs because the visual system processes the black and white lines differently, causing them to appear to shift and move as the viewer looks at the image.

One important factor in the illusion is the way that the wavy lines are interlocked. The lines are designed so that they fit together perfectly, with each black line interlocking with a white line, and vice versa. This creates the appearance of concentric circles that overlap and shift as the viewer looks at the image.

Another important factor in the illusion is the way that the alternating black and white rings interact with each other. When viewed up close, the individual rings appear to be distinct and separate. However, as the viewer steps back from the image, the rings begin to blend together, creating the appearance of a swirling, rotating pattern.

The precise mechanisms that underlie the Pinna’s overlapping illusion are not fully understood, but they are thought to involve the way that the visual system processes information about contrast, luminance, and motion. Specifically, the illusion may be related to the way that the brain processes information about edges and boundaries, and how it makes assumptions about the shape and arrangement of objects in the visual field.

Overall, the Pinna’s overlapping illusion is a fascinating example of how the brain can be tricked into perceiving complex patterns and motion in static images, and it highlights the complex nature of visual perception and cognition.

Some Similar Illusions

There are many visual illusions that are similar to Pinna’s overlapping illusion in that they create the perception of movement, swirling patterns, or overlapping shapes. Here are a few examples:

  1. Fraser Spiral Illusion: This illusion consists of a series of concentric circles that appear to be swirling, even though they are actually static.
  2. Hermann Grid Illusion: This illusion involves a grid of black squares on a white background. In the areas where the grid lines intersect, gray dots appear to appear and disappear, creating the perception of movement.
  3. Mach Bands Illusion: This illusion occurs when a series of gradually changing shades of gray are arranged in alternating light and dark bands. The bands appear to be darker on one side and lighter on the other, even though they are actually the same shade.
  4. Cafe Wall Illusion: This illusion involves a grid of alternating black and white rectangles. The rectangles appear to be tilted, even though they are actually parallel to each other.
  5. Rotating Snakes Illusion: This illusion consists of a series of interlocking wavy lines arranged in a circular pattern. The lines appear to be rotating or swirling, even though the image is actually static.

These illusions, like Pinna’s overlapping illusion, are fascinating examples of how the brain can be tricked into perceiving movement and complex patterns in static images. They also highlight the complex nature of visual perception and cognition.

Discovery of the Pinna’s Overlapping Illusion

Pinna’s overlapping illusion was discovered by Italian psychologists Marco Bertamini and Paolo Livio in 2001. The illusion is named after the Italian psychologist Gianfranco Pinna, who developed a related illusion called the Pinna-Brelstaff figure. Bertamini and Livio’s study, which was published in the journal Perception, demonstrated how the illusion can be created using pairs of interlocking wavy lines arranged in a circular pattern. Since its discovery, the Pinna’s overlapping illusion has become a popular example of a perceptual illusion, and it has been studied extensively by researchers interested in the mechanisms of visual perception and cognition.


References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.