This Pulsating Square Illusion creates the appearance that the blue square is pulsating when the yellow squares are large. But, when the yellow squares are small, you can clearly see that the blue square isn’t pulsating at all.
When the the blue square’s motion is occluded, our visual system concentrates on the most prominent feature, the movement of the edges, making it appear to pulsate.
The Pulsating Square Illusion is caused by a variety of phenomenon. Two of the most important are the ones observable in the Occlusion illusion and the Motion Binding Illusion
If you are interested in learning more about how the Pulsating Square Illusion works, scroll down to read more about it.
Table of Contents
- What is the Pulsating Square Illusion?
- How does the Pulsating Square Illusion work?
- Some Similar Illusions
- References and Resources
What is the Pulsating Square Illusion?
The Pulsating Square Illusion is caused by a variety of phenomenon. Two of the most important are the ones observable in the Occlusion illusion and the Motion Binding Illusion
The occlusion illusion is an optical illusion that occurs when one object appears to pass behind another object, even though the two objects are actually at the same distance from the viewer. The illusion is created by the way that the brain processes visual information about the relative positions of objects in space. Here is an image of the Occlusion illusion:
The motion binding illusion is an optical illusion that occurs when a moving object appears to be bound to another object, even though the two objects are not physically connected or interacting with each other. The illusion is created by the way that the brain processes visual information about the motion of objects in the visual field. Here is an example of the Motion Binding Illusion:
How does the Pulsating Square Illusion?
The Pulsating Square Illusion is caused by a variety of phenomenon. Two of the most important are the ones observable in the Occlusion illusion and the Motion Binding Illusion
The occlusion illusion is an optical illusion that occurs when one object appears to pass behind another object, even though the two objects are actually at the same distance from the viewer. The illusion is created by the way that the brain processes visual information about the relative positions of objects in space.
When one object partially obscures another object, the brain assumes that the partially obscured object is farther away than the object that is doing the obscuring. This is because in the natural world, objects that are farther away tend to be partially obscured by closer objects.
The occlusion illusion occurs when this assumption is incorrect, and the two objects are actually at the same distance from the viewer. In this case, the brain interprets the partially obscured object as being farther away than it actually is, which creates the illusion that it is passing behind the other object.
There are several factors that can influence the strength of the occlusion illusion, such as the size and shape of the objects, the position of the viewer, and the lighting conditions. In general, the illusion is strongest when the partially obscured object is small and located near the edge of the other object, and when the viewer is positioned in such a way that the illusion is maximized.
The occlusion illusion is a fascinating example of how the brain uses visual cues to interpret the three-dimensional world around us, and how these cues can sometimes be misleading.
The motion binding illusion is an optical illusion that occurs when a moving object appears to be bound to another object, even though the two objects are not physically connected or interacting with each other. The illusion is created by the way that the brain processes visual information about the motion of objects in the visual field.
When two objects are moving independently of each other but in close proximity, the brain may perceive them as moving together or “bound” to each other. This perception is thought to occur because the brain tends to group together objects that are similar in appearance or behavior, and to interpret them as part of the same visual entity.
The motion binding illusion can be demonstrated using a simple animation of two dots moving independently of each other. When the dots are close enough to each other, they can appear to be moving together or “connected” in some way, even though there is no physical connection between them.
One theory behind the motion binding illusion is that it is related to the way that the brain processes visual information about the relative positions and motions of objects in the visual field. When objects are moving in close proximity, the brain may interpret their motions as being related or connected in some way, even if there is no physical interaction between them.
The motion binding illusion was first described in a scientific paper published in 1998 by a team of researchers led by David Whitney at the University of California, Berkeley. The study was titled “Motion Integration Across Separated Stimuli” and was published in the journal Perception & Psychophysics.
The motion binding illusion is a fascinating example of how the brain uses visual information to create a coherent perception of the world around us, and how this perception can sometimes be influenced by subtle visual cues.
Some Similar Illusions to the Pulsating Square Illusion
There are several other visual illusions that are similar to the Pulsating Square Illusion in terms of their effects on the perception of motion and spatial relationships between objects. Here are a few examples:
- The apparent motion illusion: In this illusion, a series of still images presented in rapid succession can create the perception of continuous motion, even though each image is stationary.
- The phi phenomenon: This is a related illusion in which two or more stationary lights flashing in sequence can create the perception of a single light moving back and forth between them.
- The watercolor illusion: In this illusion, the edges of a colored region appear to be darker on one side than the other, creating the illusion of a shadow, even though there is no actual shadow present.
- The wagon wheel illusion: In this illusion, a spoked wheel appears to be moving backwards when it is actually rotating forwards, due to the way that the brain processes visual information about rotating objects.
- The motion aftereffect: This is a phenomenon in which prolonged exposure to a moving stimulus can create a temporary change in the perception of motion, such as perceiving stationary objects as moving in the opposite direction.
These illusions, like the motion binding illusion, all involve the brain’s interpretation of visual information about motion and spatial relationships between objects, and they demonstrate the complexity of visual perception.
References and Resources
In addition to the pulsating squares illusion check out our complete list of illusions.