The wagon wheel illusion in movies and reality

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Apr 16;93(8):3693-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.8.3693.

Abstract

Wheels turning in the movies or in other forms of stroboscopic presentation often appear to be rotating backward. Remarkably, a similar illusion is also seen in continuous light. The occurrence of this perception in the absence of intermittent illumination suggests that we normally see motion, as in movies, by processing a series of visual episodes.

MeSH terms

  • Eye Movements / physiology
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Motion Pictures
  • Optical Illusions / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation