The wagon wheel illusion is a visual illusion in which a rotating wheel appears to be rotating in the opposite direction or at a different speed than its actual rotation.
The illusion is most commonly observed when viewing a wheel that is lit with strobe lights or a series of still images, such as a filmstrip or video.
From Wikimedia Commons
Table of Contents
- How does the Wagon Wheel Illusion work?
- Versions of the Wagon Wheel Illusion
- Illusions like Wagon Wheel Illusion
- Discovery of the Wagon Wheel Illusion
- References and Resources
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How does the Wagon Wheel Illusion work?
The illusion is caused by the way the human visual system processes motion. When the wheel is rotating at a relatively slow speed, the visual system perceives each frame of the strobe-lit wheel or still image as a separate, stationary image. As a result, the brain perceives the wheel as rotating in the opposite direction or at a slower speed than its actual rotation.
This illusion is also known as the reverse rotation illusion or stroboscopic illusion, and is related to the beta movement illusion, as it is also based on the persistence of vision phenomenon and the way the brain processes rapid sequences of images.
It is important to note that the wagon wheel illusion can be observed in real life, and is not just limited to strobe lights or still images. It can also be observed in situations such as a wheel on a moving vehicle viewed through a fence or a spinning wheel viewed through the slats of a fence or through a window with a grid pattern.
Versions of the Wagon Wheel Illusion
The following is another examples of the Wagon Wheel Illusion
Illusions like Wagon Wheel Illusion
The wagon wheel illusion is a type of kinetic illusion. Kinetic illusions are visual illusions that involve the perception of movement, despite the absence of any actual movement in the stimulus. The wagon wheel illusion specifically falls into the category of a “rotating illusion”, which is a type of visual illusion that occurs when a rotating object appears to rotate in the opposite direction or at a different speed than it actually is.
It’s also considered a form of the stroboscopic illusion, which refers to the illusion that occurs when a rotating object is viewed under strobe lighting or a rapid sequence of still images. It’s related to the beta movement illusion, which is based on the persistence of vision phenomenon and the way the brain processes rapid sequences of images.
The following are some illusions that are related to the Beta Movement
Troxler’s fading, also known as Troxler’s effect, is a phenomenon in which a stationary visual stimulus, such as a dot or a shape, disappears from perception after a certain period of time.
The Phi phenomenon is the illusion of movement created by the rapid succession of static images or light sources.
The Rotating Snakes is a peripheral drift illusion that consists of a grid of shapes, with some of them appearing to be rotating or undulating. The illusion is created by the interaction of the shapes with the neural processing of the visual system.
The Moiré pattern illusion: This illusion is created by superimposing two similar patterns on top of each other, such as a grid of lines or circles. The resulting pattern appears to be moving or changing.
The Scintillating Grid Illusion, in which a grid of black and white squares appears to pulsate or “breathe” when viewed from the periphery of the image.
The Hermann Grid Illusion, in which the intersections of a white grid on a black background appear to be gray, even though they are actually the same color as the background.
The Zöllner Illusion, in which parallel lines appear to be tilted or bent when intersected by diagonal lines.
The Fraser Spiral Illusion, in which a pattern of short, curved lines appears to form a spiral.
The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.
These illusions are usually caused by the way our eyes process visual information and the way the brain interprets it. They can also be caused by the interaction of different visual elements, such as lines and angles, in the image. They are often used in research on visual perception and the neural basis of perception.
Discovery of the Wagon Wheel Illusion
The phenomenon of the wagon wheel illusion has been known and studied for many years, and is likely to have been observed by many people throughout history. The earliest known description of the illusion was made by the German physiologist Ewald Hering in the late 19th century, he observed that when a rotating wheel is lit with strobe lights, it can appear to rotate in the opposite direction or at a different speed than its actual rotation.
It is also likely that this illusion was observed by people who were working with strobe lights, such as photographers and filmmakers, who may have noticed the effect while experimenting with different lighting techniques.
However, there is no specific individual who is credited with the discovery of the wagon wheel illusion, as it is a well-known phenomenon that has been observed and studied by many researchers over the years. It is a well-known illusion that is still studied by scientists and researchers and they continue to explore and understand the underlying neural mechanisms and processes that give rise to this phenomenon.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.
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