Spinning Dancer and the Optical Illusion.....

It is estimated that about 75% of the information we receive from our surroundings comes through our sense of sight.

But can we always trust what we are seeing?

If you’ve been on the internet enough, you’ve probably come across the image of the “spinning ballerina”. 

It asks the question:  Is she turning clockwise or counter-clockwise?

Depending on what direction you see her turning, they suggest it can be determined if you are “right or left-brained”.

What do the experts say?

Well, many experts think this is hog-wash and unlikely to be true! But leaving “brain-sidedness” to the side…

The spinning dancer is a great example of anoptical illusion. Stare at her long enough and you’re likely to see her spin both ways.

Optical illusions fool our brains into ‘seeing’ things that are not actually a good representation of reality.

One of the main reasons optical illusions work is because many of the eyes’ receptors perceive images and colours at different rates of speed.

So, depending on how an image is put together using colour, brightness, depth, movement etc. the receptors might be sending false images to the brain.

A Practical Use For Optical Illusions…

Interior decorators are sometimes known for creating optical illusions.

With the right colour combinations or contrast in a tiny downtown apartment, we can create the ‘perception’ of space. 

Sometimes getting tricked is a good thing.