Optical illusions gets our brain to exercise, and can be the perfect test of our observational skills and keen eye. An optical illusion is a visual phenomenon where the brain misinterprets what the eyes perceive. It occurs when the information sent by the eyes conflicts with how the brain processes and understands what it sees. These illusions often trick us into seeing things that are not there, or perceiving objects differently from reality. For example, a still image might appear to move, or two shapes may seem unequal in size even though they are identical.

Can you spot the differences in these images?
At first glance, these images look exactly the same, that of a princess in a palace garden, along with one of her staff, where they seem to be plucking some flowers, as a bird comes and sits on the princess’ hands. However, there is more to the image than what meets the eye. What seem like two exactly same pictures, have some minor differences that are extremely difficult to spot. Have a look at them carefully and let us know if you can spot those. But remember, you just have 25 seconds (hint, look at the backgroud for some clues)

The reveal
How many were you able to spot? Here, we have marked out the difference for you. Take a look…

Types of optical illusions
There are three main types of optical illusions:
Literal Illusions: These occur when the brain combines elements of an image to create something that doesn’t exist. For example, an image might look like two faces or a vase depending on how you interpret it.
Physiological Illusions: These are caused by overstimulation of the visual system, such as excessive exposure to light, movement, or color. They can create effects like afterimages or motion illusions.

Cognitive Illusions: These rely on how the brain subconsciously interprets information. Examples include illusions like the Müller-Lyer illusion, where lines appear longer or shorter due to surrounding shapes.