How does this work? Stare at the red dot and see the woman in full color on the wall

January 25, 2012 | Steve McGough | | ,

I have no idea how to describe this, let alone create an understandable headline for this story. Just follow the instructions.

Instructions:

  1. Stare at the red dot on the woman’s nose for 30 seconds
  2. Turn your eyes towards the wall/roof or somewhere else on a plain surface
  3. As soon as you move your head, start blinking your eyes quickly.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

14 Comments

  1. Dimsdale on January 25, 2012 at 12:31 pm

    Well, it has to do with what is called color opponency in the retina.? What you are seeing is called a complementary color after image.? In that picture, you are effectively looking at a color negative.? It is like staring at a red square for a while and seeing a green square after image on a white wall.? In a nutshell, the cone cells (color receptors) in the retina are set up to maximize contrast, which cells around them help do by emphasizing opposite colors.? When you stare for a long time at one thing, the cone cells of different color sensitivity get “tired” of that color and leave the complementary, or opposite color in predominance.? Since you are already looking at a negative, what is left is the positive image.
    ?
    Yeah, I know.? That isn’t very helpful, but it is explainable!? I just need a hour or two of your time and a blackboard!? 🙂



  2. Dimsdale on January 25, 2012 at 12:32 pm

    Now do one on the cross eyed “3D” images!



  3. Tim-in-Alabama on January 25, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Surely this must be the work of satan!



  4. gillie28 on January 25, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    Ok, that is officially FREAKY whatever Dims’s impressive, technical explanation – which, when?I read, glazed my eyes over so the picture disappeared!!!!



    • Dimsdale on January 25, 2012 at 4:09 pm

      You should see my student’s eyes!? LOL!



  5. Plainvillian on January 25, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    The image is as ephemeral as a politician’s promise.



  6. Lynn on January 25, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    Dims didn’t get a word you said. However, I saw only black and white which is what I usually see in this world.



  7. ricbee on January 25, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ



    • Dimsdale on January 26, 2012 at 8:40 am

      Hey!? He asked!? And that was the highly watered down version!? LOLOL!



  8. winnie on January 26, 2012 at 7:13 am

    That’s crazy weird.? Didn’t expect it to work quite honestly.



  9. Lynn on January 26, 2012 at 7:37 am

    BTW, I meant that metaphorically, no shades of grey. I actually see the world in Technicolor!



  10. stinkfoot on January 26, 2012 at 9:52 am

    It’s a pigment of your imagination…



    • Lynn on January 26, 2012 at 5:26 pm

      I like it. puns work subtly.



  11. JBS on January 26, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    Sure Dims, but, really Steve, how did you get the Mona Lisa to appear on on my wall?
    Hey, do another one!



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