THIS nauseating optical illusion isn’t for the faint of heart.
The animation combines still images to give the illusion of movement, resulting in a visual effect that really churns the stomach.
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Fittingly dubbed “Chunder Thunder,” the brain-muddling creation was a finalist in the 2019 Illusion of the Year competition.
It seemingly brings the 17th Dutch marine artist Ludolf Bakhuizen’s painting “Ships on a Stormy Sea” to life.
It was developed by Mike Pickard and Gurpreet Singh, of the University of Sunderland.
The illusion’s description on the competition website explained: “The ship appears to be tossed around on a raging sea in a wild storm where the waves surge past and the clouds scud across the sky.
“With the hatches battened down, the crew are experiencing a roller coaster ride! However, this impression of wild motion is illusory.”
To create the illusion, the researchers created several versions of the painting, each with elements moved forward slightly.
They then added a flashing effect to make the boat appear to violently move back and forth in the sea.
The researchers said: “The directional motion seen in this illusion is achieved using positive and negative images and different luminance levels.
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“Visually, this favours the forward motions seen so that an overall impression of continuous motion is created.”
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
