| Multistable Perception - The Concept | | | | pattern is visible at a time, which is replaced by |
| In broad terms, Multistable Perception is a | | | | the other after a while. Necker cube, published in |
| phenomenon, where more than one perception is | | | | 1832, was the brainchild of Swiss crystallographer |
| created by using an ambiguous stimulus. | | | | Louis Albert Necker. It is a cubical pattern, where |
| Commonly associated with visual, the perception | | | | all the 12 edges are visible in such a way that |
| can also be in the terms of sound and smell. In | | | | imparts two different views to the onlooker. The |
| the visual domain, an object, picture, or pattern is | | | | task for the viewer in 'structure from motion' |
| created in such a way that its structure can be | | | | process is to identify the structure of a |
| viewed in many ways. The equivocal designs | | | | three-dimensional object by observing its motion. |
| make it difficult for the brain to fixate on the | | | | The process of swapping between alternative |
| interpretation of a unique structure, due to | | | | images is known as 'perceptual reversals.' It is an |
| conflicting sensory signals it receives. | | | | involuntary and dynamic phenomenon, which can |
| Consequently, it keeps switching between the | | | | be mastered only partially or cannot be captured |
| alternative stable views, making the interchange a | | | | at all. However, the speed of such swapping |
| dynamic process. | | | | varies for different viewers. |
| The Details | | | | The Artists and the Artworks |
| Some of the examples of patterns/phenomenon | | | | The knowledge and the study of Multistable |
| that create visual Multistable Perception are | | | | Perception can be traced back to ancient history. |
| Monocular Rivalry, Binocular Rivalry, structure | | | | An example of this is Dutch Graphic Artist M C |
| from motion, and Necker Cube. In the case of | | | | Escher's (1898-1972) ambiguous lithographs, like |
| Monocular Rivalry, a single pattern is created by | | | | 'Drawing Hands' of 1948, 'Relativity' of 1953, and |
| superimposing two different patterns, which | | | | 'Waterfall' of 1961. In addition, Escher created |
| makes either of the pattern appear brighter than | | | | several works based on the concept of Necker |
| the other, alternately. To create Binocular Rivalry, | | | | Cube. An interesting example of Multistable |
| different images are used for the right and the | | | | Perception is also available in the form of the |
| left eye. The patterns are kept at the | | | | telescopic images of moon, where craters appear |
| correspondingly same retinal positions for the right | | | | like raised ground, instead of a deep chasm, on |
| and the left eye. The effect is that only one | | | | the surface. |