What's the neuroscience behind this illusion?

[Dave1001]

http://www.patmedia.net/marklevinson/cool/cool_illusion.html

 

[Spiro]

Try http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/col_lilacChaser/index.html

 

[bingefeller]

I think the reason the dots disappear is something to do with the blind spot in your eyes.

 

[Kaylee]

Hmm, am I the only one who just sees the pink dots being removed sequentially really fast?

I can "switch" and see the green dot too, and then later even a green streak -- but I it feels more natural for me to see it the first way.

 

[Mercutio]

I think the reason the dots disappear is something to do with the blind spot in your eyes.

Um, nope. Your blind spot is the result of the nerves from the rod and cone cells (as sent through bipolar and ganglion cells) needing a place to exit the eye. The blind spot is, metaphorically speaking, the drain-hole to your retinal sink. (Cephalopod eyes do not have this defect; their photoreceptive cells are oriented toward the light, not away from it as ours are, so the nerves can simple go out the back.)

The dissappearing here has to do with inhibitory signals from adjacent perceptual fields, and the fatiguing of an unchanging visual stimulus. So, it is how the signal is processed, rather than a lack of signal (as in the blind spot).

 

[robinson]

Looks like the Troxler effect

 

[baron]

I thought it was the colour of the purple dots "forcing" the brain to believe it was seeing an after-image of a bright object. The green is simply a complementary colour produced when the purple dot vanishes - i.e. a real after-image.

Having said that, I have no idea, except it's nothing to do with blind-spots.

 

[Dave1001]

Looks like the Troxler effect

Close, and it lead me to the exact wiki explanation through a link. Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilac_chaser

 

[robinson]

Gotta love the Wiki.

 

[Modified]

Hmm, am I the only one who just sees the pink dots being removed sequentially really fast?

I can "switch" and see the green dot too, and then later even a green streak -- but I it feels more natural for me to see it the first way.

Try not blinking.

 

[andyandy]

cool

i'll never believe my eyes again.....

 

[Dave1001]

Try http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/col_lilacChaser/index.html

Just noticed this. thanks.

 

[Kaylee]

Hmm, am I the only one who just sees the pink dots being removed sequentially really fast?

Try not blinking.

That did it, thanks Modified.

So to state the obvious -- blinking not only keeps the eyes moist and dust free, but it also prevents them from getting over fatigued which makes us sees things that aren't there.

I think I’m going to blink more often.