Here’s another example of the same phenomenon. Take a look at the red dot on this woman’s nose for 30 seconds, then look at a white surface or close your eyes. Can you almost see the original?
Whereas you almost certainly knew the original colors of the American flag, this one is a little bit more difficult to guess, thus demonstrating the remarkable power of this illusion. The combination of active and jaded cells in your eyes results in signals to the brain being misinterpreted, ultimately rendering a full-color image.