The fluttering heart
Access since February 27, 2009
The heart appears to move when you see this image in the peripheral vision and move the figure. This effect is strong in a dark room or in mesopic vision.
Helmholtz (1867) proposed this illusion.
Helmholtz, H. von (1856, 1860, 1866, 1867) Handbuch der Physiologischen Optik. Leipzig: Voss. Part I (1856), Part II (1860), Part III (1866). The first
two parts were published in the same volume as the third part in 1866.
This was called the first edition according to Robinson (1972). In many
case, "1867" is preferred for citation as follows. Helmholtz,
H. von. (1867). Handbuch der physiologischen Optik. Leipzig: Voss. Translated
by J P C Southall of the third German edition (1909-1911) was published
as Treatise on Physiological Optics, New York: Dover (1924-1925, 1962).
Edited by N. Wade, Helmholtz's Treatise on Physiological Optics, Bristol:
Thoemmes (2000).
The following information was taken from Wade (2004).
Helmholtz H, 1867 "Handbuch der physiologischen Optik", in Allgemeine
Encyklopädie der Physik volume 9, Ed. G Karsten (Leipzig: Voss)
Helmholtz H, 1896 Handbuch der physiologischen Optik 2nd edition (Hamburg: Voss)
Helmholtz H, 1909 Handbuch der physiologischen Optik volume 1, 3rd edition, Eds A Gullstrand, J von Kries, W Nagel (Hamburg: Voss)
Helmholtz H, 1910 Handbuch der physiologischen Optik volume 3, 3rd edition, Eds A Gullstrand, J von Kries, W Nagel (Hamburg: Voss)
Helmholtz H, 1911 Handbuch der physiologischen Optik volume 2, 3rd edition, Eds A Gullstrand, J von Kries, W Nagel (Hamburg: Voss)
Helmholtz H, 1924 Helmholtz's Treatise on Physiological Optics volume 1, translated by J P C Southall (New York: Optical Society of America)
Helmholtz H, 1925 Helmholtz's Treatise on Physiological Optics volume 2, translated by J P C Southall (New York: Optical Society of America)
Helmholtz H, 1925 Helmholtz's Treatise on Physiological Optics volume 3, translated by J P C Southall (New York: Optical Society of America)
Helmholtz H, 2000 Helmholtz's Treatise on Physiological Optics (3 volumes) translated by J P C Southall (Bristol: Thoemmes)