Troxler’s Haunting

Troxler dims the lights

He poisons your reflection

Your own eyes are fouled

***

Authors note:

In 1804, psychologist Ignaz Paul Vital Troxler discovered a fascinating optical illusion— if one focuses on a set point, and keeps ones vision fixed, objects in the peripheries will begin to fade! This sensory phenomenon is called the Troxler effect, or Troxler’s fading!

The image above the haiku is an example, focus intently on on the + in the center of that image, and gradually, the surrounding colors will all fade to uniform gray.

I can’t pretend to understand the science behind this, but I— if I remember correctly from psych 101 back in 2009– it has something to do with some of the light receptors along your peripheral vision kinda going on standbye because they’re tuned to movement but they’re receiving no new information to transmit. Then your brain kinda generates missing details to fill in the blanks and maintain a broader picture— based on what it can piece together of general surroundings.

As cool as this effect is on two dimensional sample pictures, like the one above, it can be downright unsettling in real world scenarios.

For example: you can view the Troxler effect on your own face, in the mirror!

This can be done in a brightly lit room, but it’s quicker and easier (and scarier) when the lighting is dim.

1. head to your nearest mirror, and stand just a few inches from your own reflection.

2. Choose a central part of your own face to focus on— I usually use the bridge of my nose.

3. Don’t move your eyes around, just keep steady— even when things start happening.

That’s it!

The longer you stare the more distorted your reflection will become— to the point of looking downright monstrous.

Your jaw may round out or elongate.

Your nose may grow or disappear. Your ears may retract or become pointed, goblin like. Your teeth may become insectoid pincers, or they may become fangs.

But the most unsettling changes will be to your eyes. They say the eyes are the window to the soul… well it is a very strange feeling indeed to watch your own eyes reveal the soul of someone— or something— that’s not quite you!

When I Troxler my own face, each of my eyes turn black— not just the iris, but the sclera. They’ll take on a pitiless, reptilian glare. Then they will grow like black holes, consuming most of my face— and my nose will vanish completely, leaving smooth skin in its place. My beard will spread across what remains of my face, like scraggly tarantula hairs, leaving me looking like a half spider, half man monstrosity.

I don’t know much about the man who discovered this effect, but I hope if anything of his spirit remains, that he gets a lot of satisfaction from seeing people all over the globe flinch away from their own reflections, all in his name.

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