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The Leaning Tower of Pisa effect: an illusion mediated by colour, brightness, and motion. 2000

T Ditzinger, and V A Billock, and J A Kelso, and J Holtz
Center for Complex Systems, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.

We report a novel, easily observed, and extraordinarily striking optical illusion mediated by interactions of colour, brightness, form, and motion perception--the Leaning Tower of Pisa (LTOP) illusion. Under some circumstances, the perception of orientation of coloured forms is radically altered by rotary movement. We demonstrate that this kinetic effect--easily reproduced with a common record turntable--is optimised by particular colour and brightness differences between foreground and background with an illusory tilt of 8 degrees and more. The described illusions can be easily studied at home by downloading the colour figures from www.perceptionweb.com/perc1000/ditzinger, printing them on a common colour printer and placing them on a rotating record turntable.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008029 Lighting The illumination of an environment and the arrangement of lights to achieve an effect or optimal visibility. Its application is in domestic or in public settings and in medical and non-medical environments. Illumination
D009039 Motion Perception The real or apparent movement of objects through the visual field. Movement Perception,Perception, Motion,Perception, Movement
D009903 Optical Illusions An illusion of vision usually affecting spatial relations. Illusion, Optical,Illusions, Optical,Optical Illusion
D003118 Color Perception Mental processing of chromatic signals (COLOR VISION) from the eye by the VISUAL CORTEX where they are converted into symbolic representations. Color perception involves numerous neurons, and is influenced not only by the distribution of wavelengths from the viewed object, but also by its background color and brightness contrast at its boundary. Color Perceptions,Perception, Color,Perceptions, Color
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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