What you see first in this baffling optical illusion of a mountain claims to reveal whether you are a ‘left’ or ‘right-brained’ thinker – and it’s left many people confused as they try to work it out
Optical illusions are fun ways to pass the time, and it can be really entertaining to learn that you see something different in an image compared to your friends. But it turns out optical illusions aren’t just for fun, as they can also reveal certain things about how your brain works.
Optical illusions date as far back as the ancient Greeks. In 350BC, Aristotle said after watching a waterfall, then noticing that if he shifted his gaze to static rocks they would appear to move in the opposite direction of the water, “our senses can be trusted but they can be easily fooled”.
They play tricks on our brain, and making us see things that aren’t actually there. This happens when our brain and eyes try to speak to each other, but the interpretation gets mixed up.
One recent optical illusion claims to reveal whether you’re “right-brained” or “left-brained”. However, keep in mind this is only for entertainment purposes, as recent research has claimed there is no such thing as a “right-brained” or “left-brained” thinker.
The Deep Thinker recently posted to Instagram an image of a mountain with snow on it. The caption says: “Apparently, if you can see two people hugging, you’re left-brained and if you can see a dinosaur, you’re right-brained. What do you see in the mountain?”
Many people took to the comments section to share what they could see, with some people able to see the two people hugging or a dinosaur, but a lot of people being able to see a third option – a dog. “I see a dinosaur on the tail. I see two people hugging on the bottom left,” said one person. “I can see two people hugging,” said another.
However, others were confused as they saw a dog, which wasn’t one of the options. “An adorable dog!” said one person. “I see a puppy dog lounging,” said another. And a third added: “I suppose I am middle brained. I see a cute dog.”
You might have heard the phrase being a “left-brained” or “right-brained” thinker in books or TV shows, and might have even wondered which of the categories you fall into. However, in recent years it has been claimed this idea is just one of the many myths about the brain. According to the theory, each side of the brain controls a different type of thinking. Verywell Mind reports a person who is “left-brained” is often said to be more logical, analytical and objective, whereas a “right-brained” person is more intuitive, thoughtful and subjective.
The theory originated from research conducted by Roger W Sperry in the 1970s and 1980s. While it’s true that certain mental processes occur in the right or left hemisphere of the brain, recent research has found no evidence that people have stronger networks on one side of the brain than the other.
According to the Smithsonian Science Education Center, “while widely popular” personality tests that show whether you’re left or right-brained “reveal more about personal preferences than they do about neuroanatomy, and are primarily useful for their entertainment value”. They add: “Research has demonstrated that both sides of the brain work in tandem during creative and quantitative tasks alike.”