What is the neurological explanation for the waterfall effect?


What is the neurological explanation for the waterfall effect? Once stopped, such shapes appear to move in the opposite direction. Addams did provide a possible basis for the illusion. He argued that the apparent motion of the rocks was a consequence of unconscious pursuit eye movements when viewing descending water.


What is the illusion of the waterfall?

A visual illusion of apparent movement created by gazing for a period of time at a fixed point in a waterfall and then looking at a stationary object, which appears to move upwards.


How does the water illusion work?

Light travels at different speeds through different materials. In fact, light travels slower through water than it does through air. This optical (eye) illusion causes light to refract, or bend, when it passes through materials of different densities -- in this case air, glass and water.