Rotating Disks Illusion

In this Rotating Disks Illusion by Akiyoshi Kitaoka, the circles appear to rotate despite the image being completely static. In this way, the Rotating Circles Illusion is an example of illusory motion and very similar to Akiyoshi Kitaoka’s famous rotating snakes illusion.

If you are interested in learning more about the Rotating disks Illusion and illusory motion, scroll down to read more about it.

Rotating Disks Illusion
by Akiyoshi Kitaoka


Table of Contents

What is the Rotating Disks Illusion?

The Rotating Disks Illusion is an example of illusory motion. Illusory motion is a type of visual illusion that creates the perception of movement where there is none. This can happen in various ways, such as when stationary images are presented in rapid succession, or when static images are presented in a way that creates the impression of movement.

The Rotating Disks Illusion is very similar to the Rotating Snakes illusion which creates the perception of motion in a stationary image. The illusion was first discovered by Japanese psychologist Akiyoshi Kitaoka in 2003 and it quickly became popular on the internet.

The Rotating Snakes Illusion consists of a pattern of overlapping circles that appear to rotate endlessly in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. However, the circles themselves are not actually moving. The illusion is created by the placement of different colors and contrast levels within the pattern, which create the perception of motion in the brain.

Both the Rotating Disks and the Rotating Snakes Illusions are an examples of a type of illusion called a peripheral drift illusion, where the motion appears to occur at the edges of an image, rather than in the center. These types of illusions are thought to be caused by the way the brain processes visual information and how it interprets motion in relation to the surrounding environment.

The Rotating Snakes Illusion is a fascinating example of how our brains can be tricked by visual stimuli and how our perception of motion can be influenced by subtle changes in color and contrast.

How does the Rotating Circles Illusion Work?

The Rotating Disks Illusion is created by manipulating the way our brain perceives motion. Specifically, the illusion takes advantage of a phenomenon called the peripheral drift illusion, which causes stationary patterns to appear to move or rotate when viewed peripherally.

In the case of the Rotating Disks Illusion, the illusion is created by a pattern of circles with curved edges that overlap with each other. The edges of each circle are shaded with a gradient of color, with the darkest shade at the edge and gradually becoming lighter towards the center of the circle. In addition, the circles are arranged in a particular way so that they intersect at specific points.

When you view the Rotating Disks Illusion, your brain attempts to interpret the pattern of overlapping circles as a rotating object. However, because the circles are arranged in such a way that they intersect at specific points, your brain is unable to determine a clear point of rotation. This ambiguity causes the brain to continue searching for a clear rotational axis, which creates the illusion of motion in a direction that appears to be rotating continuously.

Furthermore, the gradual shading of the circles at the edges causes the circles to appear to be moving in a particular direction, as if they are being rotated. The combination of these factors creates a powerful illusion of motion that appears to be continuous and in a specific direction, even though the circles themselves are stationary.

In summary, the Rotating Disks Illusion takes advantage of the way our brains interpret patterns of overlapping shapes and color gradients to create the perception of motion where there is none.

Some Similar Illusions

There are many visual illusions that create the perception of motion or movement, and some of them are similar to the Rotating Disks Illusion. Here are a few examples:

  1. Pinna-Brelstaff Illusion: This illusion creates the perception of motion in a static image. It consists of a series of concentric rings, each with a slightly different shape and color. When viewed while moving towards or away from the image, the rings appear to rotate in the opposite direction of the movement.
  2. Motion Aftereffect: This illusion occurs when you view a moving object for an extended period of time, and then look at a stationary object. The stationary object appears to move in the opposite direction of the original moving object. For example, if you stare at a moving waterfall for a period of time, when you look away, stationary objects may appear to be moving upward.
  3. Hermann Grid Illusion: This illusion creates the perception of black dots appearing and disappearing in a grid of white squares. However, there are no actual black dots present in the image. The illusion is created by the interaction between the white squares and the visual system in the brain.
  4. Wagon-Wheel Illusion: This illusion occurs when a wagon wheel appears to rotate in the opposite direction of its actual movement. It is caused by the interaction between the spokes of the wheel and the frequency of the light source illuminating the wheel.

These illusions are similar to the Rotating Disks Illusion in that they manipulate the way our brains perceive motion and create the illusion of movement where there is none.

Discovery of the Illusory Motion – Rotating Circles Illusion

The Rotating Disks Illusion was created by Akiyoshi Kitaoka, a Japanese psychologist and visual perception expert who is known for his research on visual illusions and his creation of many famous optical illusions. He is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan.

Kitaoka’s work has focused on the study of perception, specifically on how the brain processes visual information and creates the experience of seeing. He has developed a number of visual illusions that demonstrate how the brain can be tricked into perceiving things that are not actually there or that are different from reality.

Some of Kitaoka’s most famous illusions include the Rotating Snakes illusion, the Checker Shadow illusion, and his work on the Fraser Spiral illusion. His work has been featured in scientific journals and popular media around the world, and he is considered one of the leading researchers in the field of visual perception.

The study of illusory motion and visual perception is a collaborative and ongoing field of research, with many researchers contributing to our understanding of these complex phenomena.


References and Resources

In addition to the Rotating Disks Illusion, check out our complete list of illusions and this awesome Moving Dots Illusion and this cool Mona Lisa Bar Illusion and awesome House Painting Illusion

Rotating Disks Illusion
by Akiyoshi Kitaoka