Visual Perception

Optical Illusion

What do you see in this image? 


Can you see the two animals present in it? 


How does your perception shift from one to the other? 


What would you do if you wanted to make this perceptual switch voluntarily?




Before moving on to my phenomenological description of this perceptual experience, try to discover for yourself how you make this alternation happen.



〰



Description

When I focus directly on the drawing of the eye and my peripheral vision—which seems to be related to throat movement, as explored in the post on attention, in the section on exteroceptive attention (see here)—shifts to the left, I perceive the duck. 


If the movement in the throat region shifts to the right, I perceive the rabbit. 


This alternation can also occur solely through the orientation of eye movements: when I shift my gaze from the drawing of the eye to the right side of the image, I perceive the rabbit; when I move my gaze to the left, I perceive the duck. 


Similarly, when the movement of my gaze goes from the left side of the image to the drawing of the eye, I also see the duck, and when the movement of my gaze goes from the right side of the image to the drawing of the eye, I also see the rabbit.

Now, observe this silhouette of a spinning woman and notice which direction she is turning. 


Does she always rotate in the same direction, or does she switch between them? 


If you notice that she alternates, pay close attention to what happens—especially in yourself—that causes this change in rotation.  


Try to see if you can control the direction in which she spins. If you succeed, observe how you manage to do it and which aspects of your perception or focus influence this shift.  


Before moving on to my phenomenological description of this perceptual experience, try to discover for yourself how you make this alternation happen.


〰


Description

In my case, to direct the rotation of the silhouette in the desired direction, I focus my gaze on the silhouette's supporting foot and make a subtle movement/tension in my throat and/or eyes, as if mentally and physically guiding the rotation in the chosen direction.


If I want to switch quickly between sides, I usually apply a slight tension in the throat and/or eyes toward one side, then relax, allowing the rotation to shift to the opposite side. 


In my case, I tend to perceive the silhouette rotating clockwise, and to reverse the direction, I make this small effort described. It is also possible to alternate so quickly that instead of rotating, it just swings from side to side. 


I can control the rotation by focusing on the supporting foot, but once it starts, I can see the entire image spin. 


I can only change direction when I perceive the supporting foot of the silhouette as if it were turned backward and coming forward, either from one side or the other. 


However, I cannot change direction when I perceive the foot facing forward and moving backward. 


Additionally, avoiding looking directly at the silhouette and keeping it in peripheral vision also seems to influence the direction shift. In this case, for me, it just swings without fully rotating in one direction. 


However, I can let it swing from side to side, and when I decide to rotate it in one of these directions, I expect it to "swing" towards the side I want and, subtly, apply tension in my throat in that same direction so it follows it until it fully rotates. 


Another way is to look at the image and blink continuously until it changes direction. In this case, I have even less control.


These movements/tensions are usually perceived as happening independently of my will, but by noticing their presence, I was able to control them in such a way that I can now guide the rotation in the desired direction.


Check out these posts to understand the phenomenological approach used in providing these descriptions of experience: 1) What is Phenomenology; 2) Naturalization of Phenomenology; 3) Micro-Phenomenology; 4) Intersubjective Validation; 5) Embodied Cognition; 6) 4E






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