i know it's an optical illusion, but the stars appear to rotate. Does anyone know what determines the directional appearance and does it tell us anything about the brain?

Question:
which way do the twirly stars appear to rotate?

Choices:
normally come out of the screen on the left
normally come out of the screen on the right
neither
both

Question:
can you consciously change the direction?

Choices:
yes, i can
no, i cannot

 

I can't see any stars

the ones under your name. when you have done lots of posts you get big swirly spinny ones.
see glaxy

quote:

Originally posted by The Little Cat:
the ones under your name. when you have done lots of posts you get big swirly spinny ones.
see glaxy

This is similar to the rotating dancer story. There is no actual rotation. It's an illusion caused by your brain trying to see 3D even when it isn't there. I can make the stars (and dancer) "turn" whichever way I like.

quote:

Originally posted by TrueSceptic:
There is no actual rotation.

wow - i wondered why it was not sticking out the back of the laptop when i looked round!

thankyou mr sceptic. that is very helpful. to begin with the dancer seemed to be going clockwise, but i can swap it if i want to in my head.

Can you do those Magic Eye things too?

quote:

Originally posted by Lucibee:
Can you do those Magic Eye things too?

oh yes, and i can move my ears at will! Can you?

oh - i thought they were horns...

quote:

Originally posted by The Little Cat:

oh yes, and i can move my ears at will! Can you?

I hope that Will appreciates it!

Mostly they look like what they're actually doing to me (getting narrower then wider).

Occasionally it looks like both sides are coming out of the screen towards me at the same time.

If I try to do "Magic Eye" pictures I usually end up not being able to see clearly for half an hour. Even thinking about it is blurring my vision.

I promise to stop posting before I'm awarded a swirly star.

Little Cat

quote:

i know it's an optical illusion, but the stars appear to rotate.

While focussing on the stars try turning your head 90 deg anticlockwise, how do they look? then 180deg, then 270 deg and then the full 360 deg.

90 degrees, they just look like they are getting squashed and then stretched back again!!!!!!!

i love those 3d pictures that were in fashion a few years back - amyone know where i can find ome of those. i got to be a dab hand at "seeing them" after a bit of practice?????

Here's one I found earlier:

magic eye thingie

Merry Christmas!

quote:

Originally posted by Son of Mulder:
Little Cat

quote:

i know it's an optical illusion, but the stars appear to rotate.

While focussing on the stars try turning your head 90 deg anticlockwise, how do they look? then 180deg, then 270 deg and then the full 360 deg.

You can turn your head 180°, 270° and 360°? That must be quite a sight. Does your neck make a horrible noise as in 'The Exorcist'?

quote:

Originally posted by TrueSceptic:

quote:

Originally posted by Son of Mulder:
Little Cat

quote:

i know it's an optical illusion, but the stars appear to rotate.

While focussing on the stars try turning your head 90 deg anticlockwise, how do they look? then 180deg, then 270 deg and then the full 360 deg.

You can turn your head 180°, 270° and 360°? That must be quite a sight. Does your neck make a horrible noise as in 'The Exorcist'?

Don't be idiotic - i'm a cat not an owl you know.

quote:

Originally posted by Lucibee:
Here's one I found earlier:

magic eye thingie

Merry Christmas!

bliddy brilliant!! fankyoo lucibee - it's the giant flying teapot from mr dawkins' latest book!

quote:

Originally posted by The Little Cat:
You can turn your head 180°, 270° and 360°? That must be quite a sight. Does your neck make a horrible noise as in 'The Exorcist'?

Don't be idiotic - i'm a cat not an owl you know.[/QUOTE]
Not you, kitty, SoM.

quote:

Originally posted by The Little Cat:
Don't be idiotic - i'm a cat not an owl you know.

Let's try the quoting again: SoM, not you kitty.