This spiral illusion is an optical illusion that is characterized by the appearance of a spiral pattern made up of concentric circles.
The illusion is created by the placement of a series of curved lines that appear to be spiraling inwards, with the center of the spiral appearing to be moving.
Table of Contents
- What is the Spiral Illusion?
- How does the Spiral Illusion work?
- Discovery of the Spiral Illusion
- References and Resources
What is the Spiral Illusion?
A spiral illusion, also known as a swirling illusion or vortex illusion, is a type of optical illusion that creates the impression of a spiral or vortex shape in a two-dimensional image or pattern.
The illusion is created by using contrasting colors or patterns arranged in a circular or spiral shape. The colors or patterns are designed in such a way that they appear to be moving inwards or outwards, creating the illusion of a three-dimensional spiral or vortex.
One famous example of a spiral illusion is the “Fraser Spiral Illusion”, named after British psychologist Sir James Fraser who first described it in 1908. In this illusion, a series of black and white arcs are arranged in a spiral pattern. Despite the arcs being completely circular and not actually spiraling, the arrangement of the arcs creates the illusion of a spiral.
Spiral illusions are popular in optical art and are often used to create dizzying or disorienting effects. They are also used in scientific studies to explore the way the brain processes visual information and to investigate perception and cognition.
How does the Spiral Illusion Work?
Spiral illusions work by exploiting the way our brain processes visual information. Our visual system relies on a combination of sensory information and cognitive processing to create our perception of the world around us. Optical illusions like spiral illusions take advantage of this by presenting visual information that conflicts with our expectations or assumptions about the world, leading to a distorted or incorrect perception.
In the case of spiral illusions, the contrasting colors or patterns arranged in a spiral or vortex shape create a visual conflict between what we see and what we expect to see. The brain processes the contrasting colors or patterns in a way that creates the illusion of movement, either inwards or outwards, which gives the impression of a spiral or vortex shape.
The brain also uses other cues, such as depth perception and context, to create our perception of visual stimuli. Spiral illusions often use these cues to further enhance the illusion, such as by creating the impression of a three-dimensional object or by using other visual elements to create a sense of movement or rotation.
Overall, spiral illusions work by exploiting the complex processes and mechanisms that our brain uses to create our perception of the world, leading to a distorted or incorrect perception that can be surprising or even unsettling.
Discovery of the Spiral Illusion
The illusion is named after the psychologist James Fraser who first described this illusion in 1908.
Sir James Fraser was a British psychologist who made important contributions to the field of perception and cognitive psychology.
He was born in 1854 and died in 1941. He is best known for his work on visual perception, particularly for his description of the Fraser spiral illusion in 1908.
Fraser studied at Cambridge University and later became a professor of psychology at University College London.
He made a significant contribution to the study of visual perception, and his work on the Fraser spiral illusion helped to establish the field of cognitive psychology, which focuses on how the brain processes and interprets information.
He also made contributions to other areas of psychology such as memory and attention. He was knighted in 1935 for his services to psychology.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.