Optical illusions get our brain to exercise, and can be the perfect test of our observational skillsand 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 man’s face?
This is a picture of a peacock, which looks pretty regular on first look. However, there is a face of a man hidden inside the peacock’s feathers. The man is called “My Bluebeard”, and is extremely difficult to spot at one go, or you might not spot it at all! But go ahead, and give it a go, but you have just 10 seconds to do so, and your time starts now!
The reveal
Give up? Here’s the answer. The image is not visible in plain sight, but if you rotate the picture, you will instantly spot the man’s face. Take a look. It is said that an illusion of this kind makes your brain think harder to come up with a solution, and hence only a highly intelligent person will think of rotating the image to see the man!

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.