A BAFFLING new optical illusion is boggling the brains of netizens the world over.
The psychedelic animation shows a tropical scene in which cars appear to be driving down a road lined with palm trees.
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Clouds and birds look as though they’re floating across the sky as the colour of the scenery rapidly changes between yellow, red and blue.
However, while the vehicles and avians look as though they’re moving, they’re actually stationary.
The animation was shared to TikTok on Monday by user @Raybanxan. It has already racked up more than 13,000 views.
It’s an example of illusory motion, also known as motion illusion, in which a static image appears to be moving.
They work by tricking the brain into seeing motion using contrasting colours, shapes and positions.
Because our brain reads a change in light as motion, it looks as though the lines are moving.
In reality, they are entirely static. A similar trick can be used to create the illusion of depth.
Interestingly, the trick relies on the viewer scanning their eyes across the image for the full effect.
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If you hold your gaze on the centre of the image, the illusory movement slows down or even stops altogether.
A similar illusion-beating trick can be achieved by rapidly blinking while looking at the visual puzzle.
Optical illusions are often just a bit of fun, but they also hold real value for scientists.
The brain puzzles help researchers shed light on the inner workings of the mind and how it reacts to its surroundings.
Dr Gustav Kuhn, a psychologist and human perception expert at Goldsmiths University in London, told the Sun earlier this month that illusions are important to our understanding of the brain.
“We typically take perception for granted, and rarely think about the hard work that underpins everyday tasks, such as seeing a cup of coffee in front of you,” he said.
“Visual illusions highlight errors in perception, and they provide important glimpses into the hidden neural processes that allow us to see the world around us.”
It follows the release of a spooky illusion earlier this month that makes the viewer feel as though they are tumbling into a black hole.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
