Brainteasers aren’t just a good way to pass the time as the days become darker and colder, they are also good for your cognitive health and help improve your cognitive function, boost productiveness and memory
Only the sharpest minds can spot the goat among the herd of sheep in this puzzling brainteaser.
Illustrator Gergely Dudás is the man responsible for some of the trickiest brainteasers and seek-and-find puzzles, and this one of a farmyard scene is just as good as those that came before it. The puzzle is an image of a field full of goats, some of whom are donning top hats, fluffy scarves and even a pair of sunglasses. Others are seen making silly faces and sticking their tongues out. The goal of this Dudás headscratcher is to spot the sheep among the herd of goats. And what makes this puzzle particularly difficult is that you need to complete it within 60 seconds. So if you’re up for the challenge, set a timer and start scouring that picture.
If you’re finding it a little difficult, here’s a clue. One of the main differences between a goat and a sheep is that the latter lacks horns. Goats have horns that are very visible, while sheep do not. If that didn’t help, here’s another hint: try casting your eyes towards the left of the image, where you can see the sheep peaking over a goat’s body. Don’t worry if you’re still searching, as this is a brainteaser after all and designed to be tricky. You can see the answer in the second image.
‘Fiendish’ puzzles like this aren’t just good for keeping the kids quiet for a couple of minutes, they’re also a great form of mental exercise. In fact, research suggests brainteasers may improve your cognitive skills, better your mental speed, improve your attention span, and even go some in reducing your risk of dementia.
Aaron Seitz, PhD., professor of psychology and director of the Brain Game Centre at the University of California in Riverside told Real Simple: “Studies show that staying mentally fit is important for long-term cognitive health, but the difficulty is figuring out exactly how to do it.”
He added that some games work differently for people and finding your own challenge might be the best thing to do. “If you think about diet and exercise routines, some things work better for some people than others, and the same is true with brain games,” he said. It is not clear if brain games and teasers really improve your cognitive abilities, but they can help to keep you relaxed and fresh, leading to indirect benefits.
