Windmills of your mind: Optical illusion that proves the brain sees things that aren’t really there

February 4th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Rebecca Seales

Last updated at 7:14 PM on 3rd February 2012

Is it the spiral staircase to heaven, or a circle of hell?

Look at it for a moment, and this brain-baffling optical illusion will begin to spin before your eyes.

But what your brain believes is a spiral is actually just four concentric circles.

Mind-bending: This optical illusion will put your head in a spin, but concentrate hard and you will see the four simple circles that make it up

The tiny squares which make up each circle create angles which distort the image – giving the impression of a rotating spiral.

The impact is such that even once you know the trick, you can’t quite believe your eyes.

All is revealed: With the help of a few black lines, the impressive illusion is shattered

Optical illusions have been a recognised phenomenon for many years, and one famous image – the Kanizsa Triangle – demonstrates how the brain can be fooled into seeing things that aren’t really there.

In the illusion, a while triangle can be seen in the image even though there is no such shape present.

The Kanizsa Triangle: This image does not contain a white triangle, but the brain superimposes one because it likes to see objects in a group as part of a whole

The impression is caused by the brain’s tendency to see objects which are grouped together as part of a whole – a theory known as the Gestalt effect.

Because humans tend to ignore gaps and perceive contour lines to connect nearby shapes, we convince ourselves the lines we are looking at make up a triangle.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Newest
Oldest
Best rated
Worst rated

If your monitor is tall enough, scroll up and down quickly and the circles will spin. The arrow keys work best.
– Zinger, Webville, 04/2/2012 15:32 That works !

– Laurence, Matlock, 04/2/2012 16:43

Easy, close one eye and squint….do i win a prize DM?

– Bobby, Cardiff, 04/2/2012 16:40

So much for seeing is believing , brain trying to do a fill in job and ending up in a spin.

– Prole, reading, 04/2/2012 16:19

Is this news?

– Becky, Lincoln, 04/2/2012 15:33

If your monitor is tall enough, scroll up and down quickly and the circles will spin. The arrow keys work best.

– Zinger, Webville, 04/2/2012 15:32

Squint your eyes and the four circles are plainly obvious.

– Art, Austin, TX, USA, 04/2/2012 14:58

It tangled my eyes and made me feel dizzy.

– me, here, 04/2/2012 14:35

If you can’t see it the way most see it, I would be really worried!

– Millie, Southport, 04/2/2012 13:40

My brain must be asleep, it doesn’t work for me!

– CM, Surrey, 04/2/2012 13:05

The human brain is also configured to pick out faces – that is why if you stare at a patterned surface long enough you start to pick out faces. This explains why people often state they can see faces/ghosts in random patterns created by a variety of means (e.g. ultrasound scans, the Turin shroud, dirty windows to name but a few)

– Lola, Chester, UK, 04/2/2012 12:11

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.