Optical Illusion: These Boxes Don't Move

Condemned be the human brain for falling for these things. Condemned are we for returning again and again, looking for the next optical illusion. As in previous occasions, the one responsible for making this recent illusion go viral is Twitter, courtesy of the user jagarikin: two transparent boxes, and nothing too eye-catching... but once we start the animation, the boxes begin to move... or do they?

Every time the web seems to recover from the "darn dress" and other similar illusions, a new one appears. We can't avoid it. We know very well that our brain loves to take shortcuts and replace things that simply aren't there, either by "filling in" or repeating patterns. We also understand that its connection to the visual system is not the most complete in the world, and it suffers from some significant limitations.

Balls of the same color, a "black and white in color" image, strawberries that aren't red, curves and diagonals... all those illusions are products of a misinterpretation, a "glitch" in the mechanism, if you will. Color and movement, lights and shadows. With the exact combination, our brains stumble... and we just want to know more. What's next on the list? A Twitter post, and two transparent boxes:

The Science Behind the Illusion

The user "jagarikin" asks the question without much ado: "It seems like they're moving, right?" The first impression is to answer yes... but actually, the boxes haven't moved an inch. This is due to the so-called "inverted phi phenomenon": our motion detection depends on signals, but an inversion in contrast and direction of movement does not produce an inversion in movement perception.

Now, in plain terms: Look at the structure of the boxes. The blue skeleton remains intact, but it has additional edges that seem to be in constant motion, going from white to black, and oscillating in opposition to the color change in the background. That combination is what gives us the sensation of movement or "rotation", as some users have described it.

Did you like it? Then don't go far! We also have for you the famous Ames Window, and the best optical illusions of 2019. Enjoy!

Source: SoraNews24