

R o t a t i n g i ll u s i o n

"Rotating snakes"

Circular snakes appear to rotate 'spontaneously' .

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003 (September 2, 2003)

Explanation (PDF file)

"Candies"

The two concentric arrays of "candies" appear to rotate in the different directions when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2002

(c)Akiyoshi Kitaoka "Trick eyes" Tokyo: KANZEN 2002

"Umbrellas"

The circles in front appear to rotate counterclockwise.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

Explanation (PDF file)

"Co-op"

Circles appear to rotate. An op effect (scintillating lustre) is also included.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

"Caprice rotation"

The left and right half circles appear to rotate sometimes. Moreover, the rotation is not always synchronized among concentric circles. They sometimes appear to expand.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

"Boats"

The ring of boats appears to rotate slowly. The direction is clockwise.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

"Rotating checks"

Illusory radial lines appear to rotate. In addition, the inner circle appears to rotate clockwise when seen in peripheral vision.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

"Absorption"

The surround appears to move to the center. Moreover, the inset and surround appear to rotate in the different directions when observers approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

Explanation (PDF file)

"Cogwheels"

The outer ring appears to rotate clockwise while the inner one counterclockwise.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

"Stealthy rotation"

The circle appears to rotate counterclockwise when seen in peripheral vision.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

"A waterwheel"

The ring appears to rotate clockwise, slowly. This effect is stronger in peripheral vision

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

"Sheep"

Rings of sheep appear to rotate slowly.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

(c)Akiyoshi Kitaoka "Trick eyes 2" Tokyo: KANZEN 2003

"Allergen"

Circles appear to rotate.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2003

(c)Akiyoshi Kitaoka "Trick eyes 2" Tokyo: KANZEN 2003

Explanation (PDF file)

"A tire"

The two concentric arrays of S-shaped figures appear to rotate in the different directions when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.*

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2000

(c)Akiyoshi Kitaoka "Trick eyes" Tokyo: KANZEN 2002

*Such an idea, the looming method, was first presented by Pinna and Brelstaff ( Vision Research, 40, 2091-2096, 2000 )

"A crab in the autumn color swamp"

The ring region appears to rotate when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2002

"Neural circuits"

The two concentric arrays of stars appear to rotate in the different directions when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2000

(c)Akiyoshi Kitaoka "Trick eyes" Tokyo: KANZEN 2002

"Rotation of primroses"

The two concentric arrays of "flowers" appear to rotate in the different directions when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2002

(c)Akiyoshi Kitaoka "Trick eyes" Tokyo: KANZEN 2002

"A loop line"

The two concentric lines appear to rotate in the different directions when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 1999

"Tubes"

The two rings appear to rotate in the different directions when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2000

"Medaka no gakko"*

*School of killifish (the title of a Japanese nursery song)

The two groups of three rings appear to rotate in the different directions when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2000

"Railways"

The ring appears to rotate in the direction different from that of the background when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2002

"Chromosomes"

The two rings of "chromosomes" appear to rotate in the different directions when we approach or move away from the figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2001

"Air mails"

Two rings appear to rotate in different directions when observers approach or move away from this figure while fixating at the center.

Copyright A.Kitaoka 2000