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What is a noun describing the sense of an adjacent train moving off?

English Language & Usage Asked on January 27, 2021

Picture this. You are sitting on the station on a train nestling your coffee, sandwich and newspaper.

That train moves off, briefly making one think one’s train is moving backwards when it is not. Or – more often still – the other train is arriving so one thinks one’s train is leaving already.

I know there is a German word for this, but is there an English word or phrase that succinctly describes this (neither
special nor general) relativistic effect?

2 Answers

"Visually induced illusory motion" is the generic term; the particular sort associated with trains is "vection" (gizmodo).

Correct answer by LPH on January 27, 2021

I think that's called vection.

Vection: vection is the sensation of movement of the body in space produced purely by visual stimulation. [Encyclopedia]

Answered by Decapitated Soul on January 27, 2021

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