02 October 2010

Optical Illusion 1 -- The Spinning Cat


Is the cat spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise? Both, actually. It's according to how you perceive it.

If you perceive that it goes only one direction, try reloading the page, or simply close your eyes and look again. With training, you might even be able to reverse the direction at will.

Good luck!
at

4 comments:

  1. R SOct 7, 2010, 7:30:00 PM

    Counter clockwise. I guess my brain is untrainable. p.s poor cat.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SeerOct 7, 2010, 8:01:00 PM

    Sorry. Perhaps if you check it a few times a day, it will mysteriously change directions. It's most fun when two people view it at the same time and they each swear that it's going in the other direction. Don't worry about the cat; she enjoys the attention.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousOct 9, 2010, 12:29:00 AM

    Please, do you have any more information about this? It's amazing ! I can spin in which ever way I want sometimes. Others don't see it change directions at all. It's so intriguing ? I get it's perception, but what makes this specific animation bring about such obvious differences in perception ? . In any case, thank you for sharing it, you have a very interesting and stimulating blog

    ReplyDelete
  4. SeerOct 10, 2010, 5:16:00 PM

    Unfortunately, I do know who created this illusion, although similar images have been around for a few years. There are some theories that this tests whether a person is dominantly left-brained or right-brained, but such a theory is unlikely. In reality, the image is actually making only half of a full turn before turning back the other direction. This is difficult to perceive, but not impossible. The illusion is based on the ambiguity of the image in the same manner that the more simple Necker Cube (look it up) confuses our senses.

    For those who still cannot change the cat's direction, try this: Instead of looking directly at the image, look away and view it at the periphery of your vision (try your right eye and your left). Then just imagine which direction the cat should be spinning, and hopefully it will!

    ReplyDelete