Two Optical Illusions: Black Dots & Spinning Wheels

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In summary, optical illusions are images that trick the brain by exploiting the way our eyes and brain interpret visual information. The black dots illusion, also known as the Hermann grid illusion, works by using contrast and the spinning wheels illusion, also known as the Fraser spiral illusion, works by using concentric circles and curved lines. Optical illusions occur because our brains use past experiences and expectations to interpret visual information, and studying them can provide insights into the mechanisms of perception.
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Black Dots
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~geoffo/humour/opticals/black-dots.jpg


Spinning Wheels
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~geoffo/humour/opticals/spinning-wheels.jpg
 
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Forgive my ignorance, but how do the optical illusions above work?
 
  • #3
Whoa! I've seen the black dots before, but the spinning wheels are pretty trippy...
 
  • #4
Originally posted by recon
Forgive my ignorance, but how do the optical illusions above work?
Check out these sites for more illusions and explanations:

Optical Illusions: Editor Selected ResultsAbout Optical Illusions
Address:http://results.about.com/optical_illusions/ [Broken]
 
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What are optical illusions?

Optical illusions are images that trick the brain into perceiving something different from what is actually present. They exploit the way our eyes and brain interpret visual information, causing us to see something that is not there or to see something differently than it is.

How do the black dots illusion work?

The black dots illusion, also known as the Hermann grid illusion, works by using contrast and the way our eyes and brain process visual information. The black dots are not actually present in the image, but they appear to appear at the intersections of the white lines due to the way our eyes and brain perceive contrast and edges.

What is the spinning wheels illusion?

The spinning wheels illusion, also known as the Fraser spiral illusion, works by using concentric circles and curved lines to create the illusion of movement. The curved lines give the appearance of spiraling, even though the image is actually static. This illusion exploits the way our eyes and brain process visual information about movement and depth.

Why do optical illusions occur?

Optical illusions occur because our eyes and brain do not always interpret visual information accurately. Our brains use past experiences and expectations to make sense of the world around us, which can lead to misinterpretations when faced with ambiguous or conflicting visual information.

What can we learn from studying optical illusions?

Studying optical illusions can help us understand how our eyes and brain process visual information and how our perceptions can be influenced by external factors. It can also provide insights into the mechanisms of perception and how our brains create our perception of reality.

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