Motion Perception

We experience motion perception in different ways. Sensations are disassembled into information bits that the brain then reassembles into its own functional model of the external world. The brain computes motion based partially on its assumption that shrinking objects are retreating and enlarging objects are approaching. Motion perception is also seen through a continuous movement in a rapid series of slightly varying images. Lastly, through the phi phenomenon, two or more lights blink on and off in quick succession to cause a perception of a single light moving back and forth between them.

For example, the brief video clip below will provide an example of motion perception in terms of a series of varying images put together to provide a perception of motion. Because the illustrator has put together several images of the progression of his drawing of a skull in the video, we perceive it as an actual video of someone actively drawing the skull.