Apparent Movement Induced by Afterimages

Abstract

A small light source viewed in the dark through an afterimage produced by an electronic flash may appear to move along short random paths. Experiment 1 shows that this is not an instance of the autokinetic phenomenon, and experiment 2 shows that it is not related to the ‘fluttering hearts' phenomenon. On the basis of experiments 1 and 3 it is concluded that small-scale ocular drifts, microsaccades, and possibly tremors cause the whole afterimage to move. The afterimage serves as a frame of reference and induces movement of the light source.