One trippy optical illusion is sure to divide people as they try and spot the number hidden within. Not everyone can spot this so-called ‘picture within a picture’
One optical illusion is sure to test your brain, but not everyone can see beyond this mind-bending image.
The bizarre image was shared on TikTok by user @SeeThatMagic. A video caption reads: “Stare at the middle of the screen, put your nose to the screen and pull away slow… What number do you see?” The image and the correct answer is below.
The clever trick is what is known as an ‘autostereogram’. Dr Brian Ang said on hs website Vision and Eye Health that autostereograms are “two-dimensional (2D) images with repeating patterns that hide an underlying three-dimensional (3D) image”. A more simple explanation, Dr Ang said, is that they are a “picture within a picture”.
Some users said they saw the number 350, others simply said they saw a zero. The correct answer from this brain teasing illusion is that people should see a zero in front of them.
He said: “They are not the same as stereograms. Stereograms require the use of a stereoscope for the 3D image to be seen… Autostereograms, on the other hand, do not require a stereoscope. The hidden 3D image can be seen with just the naked eye, as long as the correct focus can be achieved.”
Completing challenging puzzles, brainteasers and optical illusions may help improve your cognitive function, boost productiveness and memory. 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.
Nicole M. Avena, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and visiting professor of health psychology at Princeton University said: “While some studies show that brain training games are not effective, the recollection and work that the brain does during these games keeps your mind fresh and alert… Brain functions that you practise during these games—and the repetition of them—can help improve response time and sharpness.”
