Afterimage
（重定向自Paliopsia）
![If the viewer stares at this image for 20–60 seconds and then looks at a white object, a negative afterimage will appear (in this case cyan on magenta). This can also be achieved by the viewer closing their eyes and tilting one's head up.](/Images/godic/202502/01/Afterimagenpov.svg5028.png")
![](/Images/godic/202502/01/-Illusion_movie.ogg5029.jpg")
An afterimage is a non-specific term that refers to an image continuing to appear in one's vision after the exposure to the original image has ceased. An afterimage may be a normal phenomenon (physiological afterimage) or may be pathological (palinopsia). Illusory palinopsia may be a pathological exaggeration of physiological afterimages. The remainder of this article refers to physiological afterimages. A common physiological afterimage is the dim area that seems to float before one's eyes after briefly looking into a light source, such as a camera flash.