Turning Wheel Illusion

Of course, you can tell the difference between a still image and a video. Images in a video move while objects in a photo or painting do not, right?

Well, look at this still image of two wheels. Stare at the black dot in the center and slowly move your face toward and away from the image. What do you notice happening?

Is the image really moving or is it just your brain receiving some funky signals?

 

The wheels appear to spin because your eyes are constantly making small movements called saccades that “refresh” the image, causing you to see a still picture as though it’s in motion.

About the Author

Lynnie Fein-Schaffer

Lynnie is the former Outreach Associate for BrainFacts.org. She graduated from Smith College in 2017 with degrees in economics and psychology.

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Related Topics Illusions Vision Thinking, Sensing & Behaving