Avoiding the Hermann grid illusion

Guidelines for fixing Hermann Grid Illusion Use a rectangular image with rounded corners. Put the images closer together to lessen the illusion and use screen real estate more efficiently. You can reduce the bright areas further by removing rounded corners at intersections. This practically eliminates the illusion.

1. What causes the Hermann grid illusion?
2. What is Hermann grid illusion in psychology?
3. How does lateral inhibition explain the Hermann grid illusion?
4. What happens when the straight lines of the Hermann grid are made curvy?

What causes the Hermann grid illusion?

Classical explanation of Hermann Grid illusion was proposed by Baumgartner [Baumgartner, 1960]. According to this theory, illusory effect is generated by the response of retinal ganglion cells with concentric on-off or off-on receptive fields (due to lateral inhibition).

What is Hermann grid illusion in psychology?

The Hermann grid is an optical illusion in which the crossings of white grid lines appear darker than the grid lines outside the crossings. The illusion disappears when one fixates the crossings. The discoverer, Ludimar Hermann (1838-1914), interpreted the illusion as evidence for lateral connections in the retina.

How does lateral inhibition explain the Hermann grid illusion?

Lateral inhibition can explain Mach bands, or the illusion that light and dark lines exist adjacent to sudden changes in brightness, and the gray dots that appear between intersections in the Hermann grid illusion (Fig. 8.11. 1).

What happens when the straight lines of the Hermann grid are made curvy?

When the grid lines are straight, dark patches appear in the street crossings, except the ones which you are directly looking at. When the streets are curving, the dark patches vanish.