A new optical illusion is spreading widely on the internet. The image tricks the mind into a black hole-like pattern that keeps expanding as you see it. Some reports have called it the “open hole” illusion. This dynamic illusion consists of black dots, like small elliptical balls, on a white background. There is a black patch without a precisely defined border in the middle of the image. This matte black patch looks like a hole and keeps expanding as you look at it. Reports say that although it is clearly seen that the black hole in the middle of the photo continues to expand until we look at it, 20% of people do not notice this expansion. The apparent differences between observers require attention towards a proper understanding of the mechanism behind how this illusion works. What people see in illusions As explained before, most people see that the black patch or black hole continues to expand as we stare at the image. The black hole creates the illusion of a hollow dark matter spreading continuously on a white background engulfing the black elliptical balls within it. However, others who did not perceive the illusion saw it as a patch of black ink. These delusionally resilient individuals are unaware of expansion.
What Researchers Say About Illusions Researchers have explained that the rate of change in pupil diameter is significantly related to illusory motion. “The origin of these light/dark illusions is the fact that, in general, the perception of light is not directly related to physical parameters; therefore, the visual system relies on laws or constraints. ecological forcing to generate hypotheses about cognition, in most cases.” , achieving behavioral visual success,” said a research report explaining this optical illusion. The researchers, in May 2022, published the study in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. “Typically, when looking at the underlying pattern, the observer’s subjective reports are characterized by the perception of a gradually expanding central area, occurring over a period of several seconds” . said and added that close 20% of the study participants were not aware of the illusory extension. The study was conducted on 50 people with normal vision. Participants were asked to rate the intensity of the illusory movement dilation of the black holes, and these predict the degree of pupil dilation, measured by an eye tracker.Read: The first animal you see says about your personalityPeople with more variable pupil diameter rated the intensity of the illusion as high. Those who did not notice any changes did not have any changes in pupil diameter. Researchers have concluded that pupil dilation or contraction is not only controlled by the surrounding environment but also by our own imagination and perception.
