The Coffer Illusion: Can You See the 16 Circles?
We love a good optical illusion here at Creative Bloq, and even more so when it’s one that leaves people’s heads spinning like this one. Can there really be 16 circles in the image below? There are, but people are struggling to find them.
The Discovery
Known as the coffer illusion, this piece of visual trickery was discovered by accident by the Stanford University psychologist and vision scientist Anthony Norcia almost two decades ago. And it continues to baffle people today.
The Image
Can you see 16 circles in the optical illusion above? (Image credit: Anthony Norcia)
The Science Behind the Illusion
Norcia’s optical illusion is so clever that it was included in the shortlist for Illusion of the Year back in 2006 – a contest most recently won by a Harry Pottery optical illusion. Now almost two decades later, it’s still leaving people perplexed. Most people see the 20 squares, or coffers (decorative sunken panels), and they struggle to see the 16 circles.
If you still can’t see them, try focusing on the verticals between the rectangles. Or, alternatively, if you’re one of the few people who sees the circles first, focus on the horizontals between them to get to the rectangles (or just check out the tweet below for help).
Why the Circles are Difficult to See
If you’re wondering how it works, or rather why the circles are so difficult to see, it’s apparently to do with our ability (or inability) to switch our perspective once we’ve seen the first shapes that appear to us. The image is very busy and it hits us with a bombardment of visual system information, which our brain has to resolve in favour of one shape or the other.
Most people seem to see the squares rather than the circles. This may be because our brains prioritise sharp contours as more critical to vision since they have more information that can help identify an object.
Conclusion
The Coffer Illusion is a remarkable example of how our brains can be tricked into seeing one thing when in fact another is present. It’s a fascinating insight into how our visual perception works, and it’s a great reminder to keep our minds open to new and unexpected experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did the Coffer Illusion come to be?
A: The Coffer Illusion was discovered by accident by Anthony Norcia, a Stanford University psychologist and vision scientist, almost two decades ago.
Q: Why is it so difficult to see the circles?
A: It’s because our brains prioritize sharp contours as more critical to vision, and the image is very busy, making it hard to switch our perspective.
Q: Can I see the circles if I focus on the verticals between the rectangles?
A: Yes, try focusing on the verticals between the rectangles to see the circles.
Q: Why did the Coffer Illusion win an award?
A: The Coffer Illusion was included in the shortlist for Illusion of the Year back in 2006, a contest that recognizes the most impressive and thought-provoking optical illusions.
