Every Color Will Disappear in This Mind-Bending Optical Illusion If You Stare Long Enough

Troxler Effect

Our mind is constantly trying to make sense of the world around us, and sometimes certain combinations of lines and colors result in mind-bending optical illusions. These phenomenons not only give us a scientific view into the complexity of the human brain, but they’re pretty fun too! One of the latest illusions to trick our eyes (and mind) is this blurry combination of pastel hues.

At first glance, you might think this pixelated blur is due to a poor internet connection, but bare with it: if you stare at it for 10 to 20 seconds, the entire image will fade away until it completely disappears. This optical illusion is known as the Troxler effect (or Troxler fading), and is named after the man who discovered it in 1804, Swiss physician Ignaz Paul Vital Troxler.

It’s unknown exactly how the effect occurs, and whether it’s the brain or the eyes (or both) that are responsible. What’s clear though, is that after prolonged fixation, unvarying stimuli soon fade from our awareness. The Troxler effect is enhanced if the stimulus is small, of low contrast, or is blurred, as in the image above.

If you stare at this blurry image for 10 to 20 seconds, the entire image will fade away until it completely disappears.

Focus on the dot to make the image transparent forsenCD (may take a minute)

This is due to an optical illusion known as the Troxler effect.

h/t: [digg]

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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