Written descriptions produced by students after reading theories of the phi phenomenon:

"I still see it moving even though I know it's not happening."

"I was asked to stare between the two letters. When I do that I don't see anything there, ever. But I still have a sense of motion."

"I think expectation has a lot to do with it. The first few occurrences sets up a model that affects later experience."

"We also tried this with differently colored circles. I can't tell whether I really see where the color changes or whether I just think that I do."

"When the colors are different, there's no place exactly where the color changes."

"I am seeing a different pattern of appearances. I still see motion but do not see it changing colors between the A an B. I don't see a smooth movement from one letter to the next, but rather a "flashy" movement.


Phi Phenomenon Introduction

View the Phi Phenomenon