Brain Games: 9 Illusions That Will Blow Your Mind

The Thatcher Effect

The Thatcher Effect, named after former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, occurs when an image of a face is turned upside down but the eyes and mouth remain right-side up.

Chromostereopic Illusion

This illusion involves contrasting colors that trick the brain into perceiving depth. By using colors on opposite ends of the spectrum, such as red and blue, the brain interprets them as being at different distances.

The Rotating San Siro Stadium Illusion

At Milans San Siro football stadium, the spiral walkways around the structure create an optical illusion that makes the entire building seem as if it’s rotating when people walk through it.

Berezka Dance Illusion

In the traditional Russian Berezka dance, women move with tiny, shuffling steps that are nearly invisible to the eye. This creates the illusion that they are floating or gliding across the floor.

Color Perception Illusion

This illusion plays with gradient backgrounds to make an object, such as a piece of paper, appear as though it is changing color as it moves. However, the objects color remains the same.

The Floating Rock Illusion

This illusion makes you believe you’re seeing a rock suspended in mid-air. It’s often used in art installations or photography where careful perspective and depth play trick the brain into perceiving floating objects.

Works of Illusion by Patrick Hughes

Patrick Hughes is famous for his reverspective art, where paintings appear to move as you walk by. His works are displayed at the Illusion Art Museum in Prague.

3D Tunnel Illusion in China

A mind-bending tunnel in China, featuring 3D illusions, makes travelers feel like they are moving through a spinning vortex. The artwork uses perspective tricks and carefully placed patterns to create the illusion of a never-ending spiral.

The Body Transfer Illusion

The body transfer illusion refers to the feeling of possessing a body part that doesn’t belong to you. The famous Rubber Hand Experiment demonstrates this effect.