The visual system is firing at a reference frequency of about 100 hertz. Any
stimulus that has a frequency of modulation will be entrained on to the
reference
frequency and effect the modulation pattern. Consciousness is firing at
reference
frequency of about 40 hertz. Therefore eventually a stimulus will be perceived
as incongruent like a wheel going backwards. This is easily observed in the old
black and white westerns whose flicker rate was at 12 or 10 hertz rather than
the
standard 16 hertz.
Some people are brain damaged and have a consciousness reference of
3/10 of a hertz. Crossing the street would be very dangerous to them because
cars are not moving.
To further illustrate this effect consider this:
A mechanic timing a engine uses a flashing light and aims it at the bottom of
the
turning fan blade. Each flash stops the fan from moving visually to the
observer.
Yet, the reality is that the fan never stopped. Consciousness is like the
flashing light
timing when the experience will occur.
Ron Blue
>>>>>>
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Platt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Friday, February 26, 1999 12:33 PM
Subject: spinning wheels
A student in Intro asked about why when you are looking at
the wheels of a moving car it can sometimes appear that the
wheels are turning in the opposite direction of the car's
movement. I have heard an explanation of this kind of
phenomenon when viewed in a film or under artificial
lighting that relies on having a rotation rate that is a close
match to the flicker rate of the artificial light. However,
I can't explain why it would occur under natural light.
The sun doesn't have a flicker rate. Can anyone
help me with this question?
Richard Platt
St. Mary's College of Maryland
