The Barbershop Pole: History, Illusion, and Visual Perception

Let's explore the history and visual illusion of the barbershop pole. Originally a symbol of bloodletting, the pole's rotating stripes create a paradox in our perception of motion. Through research conducted by psychologists in the 20th century, we learn about the biases and processing of visual motion in the human brain. This fascinating optical illusion provides insight into how our visual system interprets and perceives movement.