Which phenomenon is a known visual illusion involving movement perception?

Autokinesis is a visual phenomenon that occurs when a stationary light source appears to be moving due to a lack of visual reference points. This illusion typically happens in dark environments, such as during night flying when pilots may fixate on a distant point of light. As they concentrate on this light, the subtle movements of their eyes and head may cause the light to seem as if it is drifting or shifting position, leading to disorientation or misinterpretation of the aircraft's attitude.

The understanding of autokinesis is particularly significant in aeromedical contexts, where pilots must maintain situational awareness and accurately judge their aircraft's orientation. Recognizing this illusion can help pilots avoid potential errors in judgment that could arise from misperceiving the position of their aircraft in relation to the horizon or other reference points.