TIME to put your brain to the test with this tricky brainteaser.
If you are able to spot the number 8 quickly in the image below, you might have a high IQ – or you could be well on your way to boosting it.
This brainteaser, featured by The Times of India, presents a grid of blue diamonds, each containing a white capital letter ‘B’.
But hidden among them is a sneaky number 8, cleverly camouflaged within the pattern.
The repetitive pattern of this puzzle may deceive your brain and make you scan less attentively, which can make the number 8 appear to blend in – this is called pattern fatigue.
It doesn’t help that the letter ‘B’ and the number 8 already look strikingly similar.
To improve your chances, try not stare at the whole grid hoping the number will pop out.
Instead, scan the image row by row, moving slowly across each line.
You can also try zooming out, squinting or even flipping the image – all ways to help your brain see the grid from a new perspective.
If you’re struggling to spot it, here’s a hint: it’s hidden in the last row.
The answer
Another brainteaser features a twisted tree – and somewhere in its branches, a a sleepy cat is cleverly hidden, waiting to be spotted.
Another challenge has left puzzle enthusiasts stumped: can you find the lost feather in just 12 seconds?
Or try deciphering the hidden message in this band’s cover art – a detail that’s puzzled fans for years.
You may also want to have a go at spotting the hidden broom amongst the clothes.
Research indicates that engaging with brainteasers can enhance short-term memory, visual and spatial reasoning skills, as well as improve your logical thinking and reasoning abilities.
How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me?
Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions.
Some benefits include:
- Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility.
- Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function.
- Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes.
- Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus.
- Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief.
Here are some other optical illusions and brainteasers to try out:
The answers
