This Purple Peripheral Drift illusion is an optical illusion that is characterized by the appearance of a spiral pattern made up of concentric circles. This version is very similar to one called Primrose Field.
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.
Table of Contents
- What is the Purple Peripheral Drift Illusion?
- How does Purple Peripheral Drift Illusion work?
- Discovery of the Purple Peripheral Drift Illusion
- References and Resources
What is the Purple Peripheral Drift Illusion?
The peripheral drift illusion is a visual illusion that involves the perception of movement or rotation in stationary objects or patterns located in the peripheral vision.
The illusion typically involves a pattern of parallel lines or concentric circles that appear to be rotating or moving, even though they are actually stationary. This effect is thought to be caused by the way that the visual system processes information from the peripheral vision, which tends to be less precise and more sensitive to motion than the central vision.
One theory behind the peripheral drift illusion is that it is caused by interactions between the neurons in the visual cortex, which respond to different orientations and directions of motion. When these neurons are activated in a specific pattern, they can create the illusion of movement or rotation even in stationary objects.
The peripheral drift illusion is a fascinating example of how the brain can create illusions and distortions in our perception of the world around us. It is also a useful tool for studying the neural mechanisms that underlie visual perception and processing.
How does the Purple Peripheral Drift Illusion Work?
The peripheral drift illusion works by exploiting the way that the visual system processes information from the peripheral vision. The peripheral vision tends to be less precise and more sensitive to motion than the central vision, which means that it can be easily fooled into perceiving motion or rotation in stationary objects.
One way to create a peripheral drift illusion is to use a pattern of parallel lines or concentric circles. These patterns are known to activate specific neurons in the visual cortex that are sensitive to orientation and direction of motion. When these neurons are activated in a specific pattern, they can create the illusion of motion or rotation in the peripheral vision.
Another way to create a peripheral drift illusion is to use a technique called “contrast modulation.” This involves changing the contrast of different parts of a visual stimulus in a rhythmic pattern. This can create the impression of movement or rotation, even though the stimulus itself is stationary.
The exact neural mechanisms that underlie the peripheral drift illusion are still not fully understood. However, it is thought to involve interactions between different populations of neurons in the visual cortex, as well as feedback from higher brain regions that help to integrate visual information from different parts of the visual field.
Discovery of the Purple Peripheral Drift Illusion
It is not clear who first discovered peripheral drift illusions. 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.
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.
It is likely that peripheral drift illusions were discovered by multiple individuals independently
The Very Similar Primrose Field Illusion
Primrose Field by Kitaoka AkiyoshiIn is a peripheral drift illusion where 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.
Peripheral drift illusions are interesting to study because they can reveal how the visual system processes information and can help us understand the underlying neural mechanisms of visual perception.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.