What: This isn’t the first time we’ve got some Akiyosi Kitaoka [1] on the site, and it won’t be the last. This is a classic example of illusory motion, where the balls appear to be moving in the peripherals of your vision, but are in fact completely still.

How To: Mix up the colors, sizes, and spacing to see how it affects the illusion. I found that the illusion is strongest when the colors are contrasting, and the balls not super large, although I could see it there

Explain it: Another Illusory Moment, and as always the Wikipedia [2] has a great description of the current thought process. I’ve also mentioned within the illusory motion beans illusion how this is working (as I can understand it), your brain is used to perceiving things that fade one way or the other as moving, and the contrasting colors here are causing a collusion of the senses.

Cites and Extras:

• [1] Illusory Motion Beans, another example of Akiyoshi’s work, my favorite.
• [2] The Wikipedia Article on Illusory Motion, there’s some cool examples in there too.
• [3] Akiyoshi’s illusion pages, Will always refence these, they’re amazing and are the main source for this illusion, Akiyoishi has better colors and more effective patterns.

I've researched these optical illusions in my spare time but am clearly not any kind of expert and my explainations are pretty smooth brained, if you find something mis-cited, earlier examples, or general mistakes please new let me know via toymaker@toms.toys, be kind!