Motion Binding Illusion
Is it a rotating square or separate sliding lines? The answer depends on what you can't see.
🧐 What do you see?▼
When the corners are covered (by the dark squares), you likely see a whole square rotating.
When the corners are removed (Hover/Click), the perception collapses into four separate lines sliding back and forth.
🧠 Why this works▼
This is the Motion Binding effect. Your brain prefers the simplest explanation for visual data.
When the "ends" of the lines are hidden, the brain assumes they are connected behind the occluders, creating a rigid shape (a square). When the ends are visible and clearly not connected, the "rigid object" hypothesis fails, and you perceive the raw component motion (sliding).
🧪 Try variations▼
- Toggle rapidly: Click repeatedly to switch between the two states. The switch in perception is instantaneous.
❓ FAQ▼
Does color matter?
High contrast helps, but the effect works even with simple outlines. It proves that "occlusion" is a primary cue for the visual cortex.