Uploaded September 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Optical illusions trick our brains into seeing things that aren't happening. The rotating snakes illusion, created by Akiyoshi Kitaoka, appears to be moving, but it's a still image—not a gif not a movie. What's going on our brains that makes these concentric circles look as if they're rotating?

Learn more: pops.ci/SBiex1

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Producer/Video by:
Jason Lederman
Tom McNamara

Research:
Marissa Shieh

Narrator:
Claire Maldarelli

Special Thanks:
Dr. Akiyoshi kitaoka
Rasmus Bååth

Cat/illusion video (courtesy Rasmus Bååth):
youtu.be/CcXXQ6GCUb8

Media used (CC BY 4.0):
file.scirp.org/pdf/PSYCH_2014073015180838.pdf

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