The Internet loves an optical illusion, they tend to go viral. Everyone remembers the infamous ‘white dress’, which had people debating harder than presidential candidates.
In March 2022, a perplexing optical illusion involving animals received a lot of attention. The image was designed to put your eyesight and cognitive abilities to the test by hiding animals in the image.
The viral brainteaser is supposedly built on the lateralization of your brain function and depending on which side of your brain is dominant (left or right), you will either see a cat or a moose.
The image was posted on Twitter by user Tom Hicks with the following explanation.
After the cat visual puzzle blew up on Twitter, viewers from all across the world gave it a try and came to quite diverse conclusions about the hidden creatures. The majority of internet users noticed a cat, some only noticed the animals when closing one eye or looking at the picture from a certain angle.
Numerous users were left upset as they couldn’t distinguish any animal between the lines, they pondered whether their brain was flawed or just perfectly balanced.
However, the original poster has still not specified which animals are associated with either side of the brain. You are thought to be more rational and analytical if your brain is left-dominant, and more creative and intuitive if it is right-dominant.
Users will be happy to learn that although specific regions of the brain execute different functions, it has been proven that humans do not have a stronger left or right side of the brain. They use both parts.
The science behind optical illusions
According to the U.S National Eye Institute, something that tricks your vision is called an optical illusion. We can learn about the interaction between our eyes and brain through optical illusions.
Your brain receives information about depth, shading, lighting, and location because you live in a three-dimensional world, which helps you understand what you see.
However, your brain can be tricked by a two-dimensional image because it receives different cues. Optical illusions work because your brain needs a break, so it developed a few detours along the way.
History credits Greek philosophers of the fifth century BC, for developing the theories that surround optical illusions. These forward-thinking individuals claimed that our sensory organs could trick us. Optical illusions are effective because they rely on the senses and the mind, according to Plato.
Later, the phenomenon of optical illusions was thoroughly studied by painters, philosophers, and psychologists in the 19th century.