Nocturnally roving weird, purple jellydots

[Gokul43201]

1. Look at the whole picture from a distance,
2. Follow the green spot closely and see what happens to it,
3. Now focus hard, on the cross in the center ...

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=11084

 

[zoobyshoe]

Whoaaa! Duuuuude! Ya shoulda, like warned people who are on acid not to go there, man.

 

[matthyaouw]

Ok that's pretty crazy... Can anyone explain to me what in the hell is going on?

 

[honestrosewater]

Ok that's pretty crazy... Can anyone explain to me what in the hell is going on?

I think it's because you aren't moving your eyes. Your eyes usually move around slightly so some nerves can rest and/or your brain can construct the image. But I could be wrong. I'll ask my magic 8 ball.

It's called the Troxler effect or Troxler fading or Selective Peripheral Fading.
http://cognet.mit.edu/posters/TUCSON3/Lou.html
http://www.troxlerforum.ch/
I couldn't find much on it quickly.

 

[JamesU]

what does that have to do with purple roving nocturnal jelly--- oh, jellydots! gotcha

 

[BicycleTree]

Actually, there is no green spot, just blank gray.

 

[Gokul43201]

That is true.

Also, try hyperphysics for "rods and cones".

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Hey, I've never seen that one before! Very cool.

 

[Evo]

If you move your eyes in a circle following the dots, you cannot see the "green" dot, they all remain "pink" (they look closer to pink than purple)