Optical illusion: Only a highly observant person can help this seahorse find her baby in under 10 seconds!

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 help this sea horse find its baby?
In this optical illusion, we get a glimpse into the underwater life, with a variety of fish, dolphins, jellyfish, crabs, and seahorses. However, one seahorse has lost her child, and is desperately searching for him. But given that the underwater is so crowded, can the little creature be found? Can you help the seahorse?

Look carefully at the pic, and identify where the baby seahorse is. You just have 10 seconds to do so, so look carefully.

The big reveal
Give up? Here's the answer. That little creature is hiding amidst the swarm of yellow fish on the left. It seems like it has got lost, and is busy strutting along with the fish. 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.

How do optical illusions work?
Optical illusions occur because of the way our brain processes visual information. The human vision system is complex but not perfect. When light enters the eyes, it is converted into signals by the retina and sent to the brain for interpretation. The brain uses past experiences and patterns to fill in gaps and make sense of what it sees.