Optical Illusions That Will Make Your Brain Stumble

Bright Side

Your eyes swear one thing is happening, but your brain keeps tripping over the truth. These optical illusions mess with depth, motion, color, and perspective in ways that feel almost unfair. Some of them exploit tiny delays in how the brain processes light, while others hijack pattern recognition and expectation. The wild part is that even when you know it’s an illusion, your brain still falls for it. This video dives into illusions that turn simple images into full-on mental obstacles.  Animation is created by Bright Side.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/   Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV  Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Our Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightplanet/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en   Stock materials (photos, footages and other):  https://www.depositphotos.com  https://www.shutterstock.com  https://www.eastnews.ru  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.

Transcript

00:00Can you read between the lines or see something hidden in the images that look plain?

00:05Let's try with the first one.

00:08Did you see a woman here?

00:10Or the word hope?

00:12Both are correct, but it's cool how some people

00:15first see the woman and then the word.

00:17And for others, it's vice versa.

00:20One more cool thing about this illusion is that the letters hope are all perfect.

00:25They're perfectly aligned, but the background makes your brain think they are leaning.

00:30But this one for too long can strain your eyes a bit, so let's move on to the second one.

00:35What color balls do you see here?

00:38I definitely see blue, red.

00:40And green ones.

00:41If you see the same colors, we're both wrong.

00:44In reality,

00:45all the balls here are of the exact same shade of brown.

00:49The lines in...

00:50The lines in front and between them, trick your brain into seeing more colors here.

00:54All right.

00:55Let's check out what's up here.

00:56Looks like an innocent gradient square at first, but I guess...

01:00I guess it can surprise us.

01:01Hey, is that square moving?

01:03It shouldn't be because the...

01:05image is perfectly stable.

01:06It's like some 3D pattern magic.

01:10I mostly use ChatGPT when I run out of dinner ideas, but one reddit user asked

01:15it to create a color humans have never seen before.

01:18I'm not sure if this can be called one...

01:20color.

01:21I guess it's more of a conceptual vision of a color.

01:24People who...

01:25Also tried to see something here said strange things started happening.

01:29It might...

01:30It must be sort of like a magic eye illusion that you have to stare through.

01:35Did you also read the word fame in this image after staring for a while?

01:39Or was it just me?

01:41Here's another ChatGPT creation for you.

01:44The combo of...

01:45shapes here and light and dark spots sends your brain on an endless spiral journey.

01:50Some redditors said they wouldn't mind living in this surreal village.

01:55I guess I'll join them.

01:56Let's try a more complex one.

02:00What do you see here?

02:03Let me guess.

02:04It's 20...

02:05These squares.

02:06They're also known as coffers.

02:08Those rectangular figures with sunken...

02:10panels you can find on ceilings.

02:12This optical trap was discovered by a psychologist...

02:15technology professor who was doing his research for future experiments.

02:19Are you ready for the...

02:20The big reveal?

02:21There are 16 circles hiding between the squares.

02:25This illusion has become a real hit.

02:27You see squares first because your brain prefers...

02:30fingers to focus on corners and angles.

02:32It could be because sharp lines give it more...

02:35critical information than straight curves.

02:37Plus, there are more rectangular shapes...

02:40around us like computer screens, signs and buildings.

02:45The next illusion has sparked some serious debates online.

02:48I'd like to hear your opinion on it.

02:50What's hiding behind all the colors?

02:52Is it a baboon?

02:54Or maybe a lion?

02:55Someone clearly saw a bear and one more option is a tarantula.

03:00Hmm...

03:01I guess I stand with those who see a human silhouette here.

03:05But there's no right or wrong answer here.

03:10Be ready for another illusion that has divided the internet.

03:13Some people say they feel like they're wearing...

03:153D glasses while staring at this one.

03:18It seems like the red circle is on...

03:20top and the blue one is just the background for it.

03:23Other people don't see anything...

03:25special about this image.

03:27If you see that 3D effect, it's because of a cool...

03:30trick that happens with your eyes when you look at certain colors next to each other.

03:35It makes it hard for your eyes to focus on both colors at the same time.

03:38This happens because the color...

03:40colors have different wavelengths, which are like the sizes of the waves of light that each

03:45color makes.

03:46Your brain can't put them together nicely and you start seeing things that aren't there.

03:50Now, meet the impossible triangle.

03:54Also...

03:55You see what's wrong with it?

03:56You see what's wrong with it?

03:59A real...

04:00triangle has 3 sides and each side connects smoothly to the next one.

04:05Penrose triangle looks like a normal one at first, but when you look closer...

04:10you see that one of its sides looks like it's both in front and behind the other side at

04:15the...

04:15the same time...

04:16which is not possible in real life.

04:19This is why it's...

04:20called an impossible object.

04:22If you tried to build it with sticks or blocks, it wouldn't work.

04:25Because it breaks the rules of geometry.

04:27There are also other impossible shapes...

04:30with 4 or more sides.

04:34Are you ready for...

04:35the next illusion?

04:36The two red lines curved inwards, although they're perfectly straight in real life.

04:40This illusion is one of many tricks that make simple line drawings look...

04:45strange...

04:46or distorted.

04:47Scientists think it works like this because our brains try to make...

04:50sense of the angles where the lines meet.

04:52When sharp angles are involved, our brains...

04:55sometimes see them as bigger than they really are.

04:58In this illusion, blue lines...

05:00cross the red lines...

05:01and this makes our brains see the red lines as bending inwards.

05:05Alright, what do you see here?

05:10A bright white triangle on top of other figures?

05:13Congrats!

05:14You've just been tricked...

05:15by the Kanika triangle.

05:16There are no real triangles in the picture.

05:19What you're...

05:20seeing are three shapes that look like Pac-Man.

05:23Our eyes and brain...

05:25are really good at filling in missing pieces...

05:27and seeing whole shapes...

05:29even when they aren't really...

05:30there.

05:31This is why we see a triangle that looks brighter and seems to be sitting...

05:35on top of the Pac-Man shapes...

05:37even though...

05:38it's just an illusion.

05:39There's another...

05:40similar trick called the Kanika square.

05:43Here, your brain also sees a square...

05:45that isn't really there.

05:49If you have a...

05:50toy train track at home...

05:51you can see the next illusion in action.

05:54You'll need to take two...

05:55segments of the same size and put them next to each other.

05:58One of them now looks way larger than the other...

06:00one.

06:01But wait...

06:02you just saw with your own eyes the pieces are the same!

06:06It turns out...

06:07that your brain compares the two sides of the pieces that are next to each other...

06:10it compares the right side of the track that's on the left...

06:13to the left side of the track that's on the left...

06:15let's move on...

06:16before the train arrives...

06:17let's move on...

06:18let's move on...

06:19before the train arrives...

06:20there are also 12 dots here...

06:22and all of them are the same color.

06:25Lilac!

06:26Now...

06:27try to stare at the cross in the middle of the dot ring...

06:30as one lilac dot disappears for a moment...

06:33a green dot takes its place...

06:35wow!

06:36It also gradually wipes away other lilac dots one by one...

06:40as it moves around the circle...

06:42this is the after image effect in action...

06:45the rods and cones adjust to the constant disappearance of lilac dots...

06:50they replace it with a color from the opposite end of the spectrum...

06:53so it looks green to you!

06:55How many colors do you see here?

06:59Did I hear...

07:00did someone say 3...

07:01or was it...

07:0217?

07:03There's no correct or wrong answer here...

07:05Austrian physicist Ernst Mach first noticed this paradox...

07:09you can...

07:10easily distinguish between similar colors...

07:12or slightly contrasting shades...

07:14when they're close to...

07:15each other...

07:16but the further away they get from each other...

07:18the smaller the difference...

07:19at some point...

07:20it gets barely noticeable...

07:22if you can't see the difference between contrasting colors here...

07:25at all...

07:26it could be...

07:27because your brain is built differently...

07:29or your contract...

07:30contrast and brightness settings are a bit off...

07:34how many black...

07:35dots can you see in this image?

07:38there are 12 of them...

07:39but...

07:40most people can't see them all at once...

07:42although...

07:43they are perfectly visible...

07:45your peripheral vision isn't that perfect...

07:48so you can only see each of the dots...

07:50when you look directly at it...

07:52so...

07:53your brain has to fill in the blanks...

07:55the white between grey lines...

07:57makes it think the dots are lighter than they are...

07:59so...

08:00now...

08:01it decides to pretend...

08:02there's just more grey...

08:03and the dots...

08:04aren't there...

08:05yep...

08:06this is technically Kim Kardashian's face...

08:08I know...

08:09I know...

08:10how can...

08:10someone so beautiful look so weird?

08:12I'll give you a second to figure out...

08:13what's going on here...

08:15let's see if your mind can figure out...

08:17what your eyes can't really understand...

08:19oh...

08:20right...

08:21we should totally try it with other public figures...

08:23but let me explain the logic behind it first...

08:25you just witnessed the magic of the inverted face effect...

08:29this option...

08:30mystical illusion was discovered 45 years ago...

08:32and it continues to wow people...

08:34here's how...

08:35how it works...

08:36the picture is turned upside down...

08:38but...

08:39key features of the person's face...

08:40are kept the right way up...

08:42for the magic to happen...

08:43you can't change everything...

08:45in the picture...

08:46just key features...

08:47like the eyes...

08:48and the mouth...

08:49the illusion...

08:50revealed a glitch...

08:51in how our brain processes faces...

08:53apparently...

08:54we don't think about...

08:55a face...

08:56as a whole...

08:57we understand each of its components...

08:58and then...

08:59assemble it...

09:00into a hole...

09:01now...

09:02let's take a look...

09:03at Lady Gaga...

09:04for a sec...

09:05while you're staring...

09:06try to figure out...

09:07what on earth is going on...

09:08I mean...

09:09it's just...

09:10too funny...

09:11hey...

09:12is this supposed to be...

09:13Ariana Grande?

09:14I mean...

09:15almost didn't...

09:16recognize her there...

09:17this illusion...

09:18should get its own...

09:19Instagram filter...

09:20but...

09:21hey...

09:22I'll finally tell you...

09:23what it's all about...

09:24ok...

09:25I've got something cool...

09:26to show you...

09:25keep your eyes...

09:26glued to this image...

09:27for a sec...

09:28do you see what's happening...

09:29to those edges...

09:30their face...

09:30fading away...

09:31like they just...

09:32disappeared into thin air...

09:33right?

09:34and then...

09:35those empty spots...

09:35suddenly turn greenish...

09:37this mind-boggling effect...

09:39is known as the...

09:40proxler fading illusion...

09:42when you focus on one spot...

09:43for too long...

09:44your brain decides...

09:45to ignore the rest...

09:46it's like it's saying...

09:47there's nothing new...

09:48happening there...

09:49so it just...

09:50tunes out...

09:51for a second or two...

09:52so while you think...

09:53you're soaking in...

09:54the whole picture...

09:55the brain is quietly...

09:56figuring out...

09:57the boring bits...

09:58you've got to...

09:59trust me on this...

10:00one...

10:01if you keep looking...

10:02long enough...

10:03through these black...

10:04and white dots...

10:05something...

10:06or better...

10:05yet...

10:06someone...

10:07is going to appear...

10:08I'll give you a hint...

10:09this person...

10:10who sings...

10:11and is young...

10:12and beautiful...

10:13did you get that...

10:14reference...

10:15straight...

10:16you just need to...

10:17readjust your eyes...

10:18and look for the shape...

10:19behind all that...

10:20interaction...

10:21but...

10:22there we go...

10:23great work...

10:24here's a...

10:25unusual scene...

10:26Shakira...

10:27and Miley Cyrus...

10:28together...

10:29in a room...

10:30but...

10:30how does Shakira...

10:31look like a giant...

10:32and Miley look so small...

10:33in real life...

10:34Miley...

10:35is taller than Shakira...

10:37come on...

10:38I'll give you a few minutes...

10:39to try to figure this one out...

10:40this is an old school...

10:42optical illusion...

10:43if you've been to a kids museum...

10:45odds are...

10:46one of the exhibits...

10:47was the aims room...

10:48the setup makes us...

10:50completely distort...

10:51the perception of the scene...

10:52let's take a look...

10:53behind the scenes...

10:54the aims...

10:55this room is built...

10:56with both the floor...

10:57and ceiling...

10:58at a certain angle...

10:59which turns the room...

11:00into a...

11:00trapezium...

11:01when you see it...

11:02your eyes are tricked...

11:03into believing...

11:04both sides of...

11:05the room...

11:06are the same...

11:07but no no...

11:08it all comes down...

11:09to how your eyes...

11:10perceive death...

11:10if someone walks...

11:11to the left hand...

11:12of the room...

11:13they're actually...

11:14further away...

11:15and the...

11:15the ceiling is higher...

11:16they appear...

11:17as a smaller image...

11:18before your eyes...

11:19and the opposite...

11:20happens...

11:21on the right hand...

11:22side of the room...

11:25alright...

11:26check out this...

11:27staircase...

11:28looks pretty normal...

11:29I know...

11:30now let's flip it...

11:31upside down...

11:32it still looks like...

11:33a staircase...

11:34but instead of moving...

11:35from right...

11:35to left...

11:36it seems to go...

11:37from left...

11:38to right...

11:39the secret is...

11:40y-o-u-c-a-n-n-o-t...

11:43b-l-i-n-k...

11:45if you do...

11:46the illusion will vanish...

11:47and you'll be back...

11:48to the original image...

11:50this little brain teaser...

11:51is called...

11:52the Schroeder staircase...

11:53it might seem simple...

11:54but...

11:55it reveals some...

11:56seriously important stuff...

11:57about how our brains work...

12:00if you break down the staircase...

12:01you'll see...

12:02it's actually flat...

12:03what your brain interprets...

12:04as a...

12:053D image...

12:06is just a clever mix...

12:07of shadows and light...

12:08basically...

12:09that...

12:103D effect...

12:11is just another...

12:12optical illusion...

12:13our brains grab images...

12:15and try to make sense of them...

12:16based on what we already know...

12:18so when it spots a shadow...

12:19in a...

12:202D image...

12:21it fills in the gaps...

12:22and sees depth...

12:23where there isn't any...

12:25in this case...

12:26it tricks us into thinking...

12:27we're looking...

12:28at a 3D perspective...

12:29how...

12:30wild is that?

12:32wait...

12:33you don't need special goggles...

12:34to understand...

12:35what Adele's face...

12:36is doing here...

12:37just keep looking...

12:38at the little white dot...

12:39at the center of this...

12:40image...

12:41for a bit...

12:42don't worry...

12:43I'll tell you when you can stop...

12:44take your time...

12:45and soak in her face...

12:47we need your full attention...

12:48for just a few seconds...

12:50when I say go...

12:52I'll need you to stare...

12:53directly into a white wall...

12:54or...

12:55a blank piece of paper...

12:563...

12:572...

12:58GO!

12:59NOW!

13:00pretty cool huh?

13:02this is called...

13:03the negative after image illusion...

13:05first...

13:06you need to look at an image...

13:07with inverted colors...

13:08for a few seconds...

13:09then...

13:10when you turn to look...

13:11at a white page...

13:12or wall...

13:13you'll get to see...

13:14the original image...

13:15a.k.a...

13:16Adele's beautiful face...

13:18it looks like magic...

13:19but let me...

13:20explain...

13:21why this is scientific...

13:23this trick happens...

13:24because your eyes...

13:25and brain...

13:26are big fans...

13:27of contrast...

13:28when they're hit...

13:29with opposite colors...

13:30they try to balance things out...

13:31by filling in the right colors...

13:33so even though...

13:34the screen's...

13:35blank...

13:36your mind plays...

13:37color artist...

13:38and...

13:39paints...

13:40the correct shades...

13:41in your imagination...

13:40oh...

13:41another one...

13:42with a bunch of...

13:43black and white bars...

13:44who shall...

13:45be hidden beneath it...

13:47keep looking...

13:48and you'll find it...

13:49think of the word...

13:50maybe...

13:51several times...

13:52with some...

13:53funky melody...

13:54did you see it?

13:55I mean...

13:55him...

13:56yep...

13:57it's Ed Sheeran...

13:58ready to get confused?

14:00take a look...

14:01at this trending...

14:02optical illusion...

14:03stare for a couple of seconds...

14:04and don't...

14:05move your eyes...

14:06do you notice...

14:07anything weird?

14:08so...

14:09there's this...

14:10grid with broken edges...

14:11if you keep looking...

14:12at the center of the image...

14:13for a few seconds...

14:14those broken edges...

14:15magically...

14:16start fixing themselves...

14:17in your side vision...

14:18it's like your...

14:19brain...

14:20brain...

14:21can't resist...

14:22seeing patterns...

14:23this illusion...

14:24was created...

14:25a nine...

14:26and was actually...

14:27a finalist...

14:28in the 2005...

14:29best illusion...

14:30of the year contest...

14:30Kenai himself...

14:32explains...

14:33that this illusion...

14:34shows how...

14:35our visual brain...

14:35just...

14:36loves...

14:37regular patterns...

14:38don't you just...

14:39love snakes?

14:40these ones aren't...

14:41scary at all...

14:42you can stare at them...

14:43moving around...

14:44all day long...

14:45in which direction...

14:46are they moving to you?

14:47are they moving...

14:48at all?

14:49this may...

14:50shock you...

14:51but these guys...

14:52are stationary...

14:53it's all about...

14:54those repeating...

14:55asymmetrical patterns...

14:56and clever color combos...

14:58we've got lighter shades...

14:59like yellow...

15:00and white hanging out...

15:01with darker blues...

15:02and blacks...

15:03this funky mix...

15:04tricks your retina...

15:05into sending signals...

15:06to your brain...

15:07making those circles...

15:08look like they're spinning...

15:10wanna call out...

15:11this illusion...

15:12for what it really is?

15:13just fix your gaze...

15:14on one...

15:15part of the image...

15:16keep staring...

15:17and you'll see...

15:18those circles...

15:19gradually slow down...

15:20come to a stop...

15:21neat right?

15:22now...

15:23the last illusion...

15:24and if this one...

15:25doesn't trick your brain...

15:26I give up...

15:27look at this photo...

15:29it's black...

15:30and white...

15:31isn't it?

15:32take your time to answer...

15:33right now...

15:34your brain is...

15:35probably trying its best...

15:36to make you see colors...

15:37but...

15:38please...

15:39don't fall for that...

15:40you're looking at...

15:41a black and white picture...

15:42with green...

15:43red...

15:43orange...

15:44yellow...

15:44and...

15:45blue...

15:46grid lines over it...

15:47this highly saturated...

15:48color grid...

15:49overlaid on a gray...

15:50scale picture...

15:51makes the gray cells...

15:52seem colorful...

15:53but...

15:54if you want to break...

15:55just zoom in...

15:56this way...

15:57you'll be able to see...

15:58the true colors...

15:59of the original photo...

16:00the true colors...

16:05that's it for today...

16:07so hey...

16:08if you pacified your curiosity...

16:09then give the video...

16:10a like...

16:11and share it with your friends...

16:12or...

16:13if you want more...

16:14just click on these videos...

16:15and stay on...

16:15on the bright side...

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