Spiral Flicker Illusion
Experience the Fechner Color effect where black and white patterns induce perceived colors.
🧐 What do you see?▼
A high-contrast, sunflower-like spiral rotates. As it spins, the edges of the black and white petals may appear to shimmer or even show brief flashes of pale colors(blues, yellows, or pinks), even though the screen only displays #000 and #fff.
🧠 Why this works▼
This is a variation of the Benham's Top or Fechner Color effect. Our eyes have different 'latency' for different color receptors (cones). Some receptors respond faster to light-to-dark transitions than others.
By rotating a specific black and white pattern at a certain frequency, the timing of the alternating white/black flashes "tricks" the brain into receiving mismatched signals from the red, green, and blue processing channels. The brain, confused by the timing, fills in the gaps with perceived color.
🧪 Try variations▼
- Find the 'Sweet Spot': Change the speed until the "flicker" becomes most intense. This is usually where the color effect is strongest.
- High intensity: Increases the number of sectors, creating a higher frequency flicker.
❓ FAQ▼
Is my monitor flickering?
No. The "flicker" is the Aliasing Effect between the rotation speed and your eye's sampling rate (approx 60Hz). It is internal to your vision.