Alternative Motion Illusion

Open fullscreen view @keyframes hop { 0% { background-image: radial-gradient(circle at calc(50% - 12vmin) calc(50% - 12vmin), blue 3vmin, #0000 0), radial-gradient(circle at calc(50% + 12vmin) calc(50% + 12vmin), blue 3vmin, #0000 0); } 100% { background-image: radial-gradient(circle at calc(50% - 12vmin) calc(50% + 12vmin), blue 3vmin, #0000 0), radial-gradient(circle at calc(50% + 12vmin) calc(50% - 12vmin), blue 3vmin, #0000 0); } } :root { background: radial-gradient(circle at calc(50% - 12vmin) calc(50% - 12vmin), blue 4vmin, #0000 0), radial-gradient(circle at calc(50% + 12vmin) calc(50% + 12vmin), blue 4vmin, #0000 0); background-color: #ccc; min-height: 100vh; padding: 0; overflow: hidden; animation: hop 1.25s linear infinite; }

About This Illusion

This animation demonstrates how our minds infer motion that may not actually be there. Consider the two blue dots. Different people perceive different movements: side to side, top to bottom, or even circular motion.

Cover the right side of the animation so that you see only one dot at a time. The motion now appears vertical. Cover the bottom part instead, and the motion appears horizontal. This is our brain trying to complete the movement.

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