A Spatial Illusion from Motion Rivalry

Abstract
A new dynamic visual illusion is reported: contrast reversal of a horizontal and vertical plaid pattern (produced by adding two orthogonal sinusoidal gratings) causes the pattern to appear as an array of lustrous diamonds, cut by sharp lines into a diagonal lattice structure. On the basis of computer simulations it is suggested that the illusion results from rivalrous interaction of motion detectors tuned to opposing directions of motion.