Call them brain-teaser, brain-twister or simply mind boggling..
These posters at the Singapore Science Centre
got my brain and eyes all tired out;
but it was worth the effort.
Honestly, it got my brain all fired up again;
as I have seen some of these before.
It was nice to recap.
I have not played or solved such games for ...
Hmm, can't remember.
See what I mean.
Below are some pictures of these teasers,
that I have taken, to share with you.
Try them out.
Quite a fair bit of reading though, but it is fun!
Take your time and enjoy them.
Melancholy Tunes
Can you spot anything amiss in this picture?
"The left column comes forward even though it is on
the same depth plane as the two columns on the right.
Drawings can suggest scenes that are physically impossible,
because an illustration is not a real three-dimensional object - it merely suggests one.
A two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional scene is not impossible:
it is only your mental reconstruction of this drawing
as a three dimensional scene that is impossible."
Impossible Fork
How many prongs on the fork can you count?
Cover up half the fork, you will find that each end is perfectly possible.
When you uncover the two possible halves,
you will end up with an impossible fork.
"When you look at this fork,
you first calculate its contours and try to perceive the boundaries of the shape.
Your visual system is confused because several contours of this fork are ambiguous.
This ambiguity makes the fork violate flat and curved surfaces-
a flat strip can twist into a cylindrical surface.
The fork, therefore, gives contradictory cues for the depth estimation
for the position of the middle prong."
Enigma
Stare at the centre of this image.
Do you perceive motion in the outer rings?
How does the direction of motion in one ring relate
to the direction of motion in another ring?
"Fixation on the centre induces in most (though not all)
people a strong perception of motion occurring within the rings.
The rings move in opposite directions;
any one ring can change direction at a stretch.
French artist Isia Leviant created this image and titled it "Enigma"
because scientists were mystified about the underlying processes that gave rise to this effect!"
Impossible Birdcage
What is wrong in this picture by Belgian Artist Jos De Mey?
"This birdcage is impossible.
Look at how the beams are connected.
The vertical beams start from the front, connect to the back,
and then to the front again, and without bending.
The horizontal beams are also impossible.
Drawings can suggest scenes that are physically connected in a way that is impossible,
because an illustration is not a real three-dimensional object,
it is only the suggestion of one.
After all, there is nothing impossible about a two-dimensional
representation of a three-dimensional scene.
It is only your mental reconstruction of this drawing
as a three-dimensional scene that is impossible."
Homage to Leonardo Da Vinci
Is Leonardo Da Vinci painting a self-portrait,
a rider on a mule, or both?
"Swiss artist Sandro Del Prete created this
ambiguous illustration that "flip-flops" in meaning.
Look closely at Leonardo's face and then closely at the mule and rider.
The contours that define each interpretation are ambiguous,
which results in the two separate interpretations."
Can you see these..
Dalmatian Dog?
The Cow
The Bearded Man
Ten Bodies Five Heads
Count the bodies and heads.
Do the numbers correlate?
"Since some of the lines are ambiguous in orientation,
one perceives 10 bodies, but only 5 heads."
Amazing Eyes
Stare at this women's eyes; they will appear to open!
"The shading of the eyes and eyelids is ambiguous,
so if you perceive the darkened areas as pupils,
the eyes will open."
Kitaoka's Waves
Why do the horizontal and vertical lines appear bent?
They are, in fact, totally straight.
"It is not completely understood, what the causes of this illusion are.
However, this phenomenon is know to take place in the early stages of visual processing,
as the brain encodes edges and contours.
It was created by a Japanese vision scientist Akiyoshi Kitaoka."
Get a ruler to verify.
Fraser's Spiral
Do you perceive a spiral or a series of circles within circles?
What happens if you are looking at only half the image?
"Although this figure appears like a spiral, it is in fact a series of circles.
The illusion works only when your brain can see the image in its entirety.
Although you conceptually know that this is really a series on concentric circles,
your perceptual system will not correct the error.
This illusion demonstrates that even your intellect cannot always overcome the constraints of your perceptual system in how you build up a mental representation of the outside world."
Revolving Circles Illusion
While staring at the centre of this image, move back and forth.
You will see the two circles moving in two different directions.
"It is not understood what causes this effect, which was discovered in a 1999
by Italian vision scientists Baingio Pinna and G. Grelstaff."
Egyptian
Do you perceive one or two faces?
"This is an ambiguous illustration that "flip-flops" in meaning.
It is possible to see a face partially occluded by the candlestick.
In this interpretation, you get a perception of depth,
because the candlestick is in front of your face.
In the second interpretation, you will see the profiles of
two women on either side of the candlestick.
The contours that define each interpretations.
Stanford psychologist Roger Shepard created this piece."
Folded Chess Set
Are you looking at this chessboard from the bottom or the top?
Is there anything strange about the ladders in this drawing
by Swiss artist Sandro Del Prete?
"Yes, you can simultaneously see both the bottom and the top of the chessboard.
While double-perspective scenes are impossible in reality,
drawings are not constrained in the same manner.
Bear in mind that an illustration is not a real three-dimensional object-
it merely suggests one.
After all, there is nothing impossible about
a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional scene.
It is only your mental reconstruction of this drawing as
a three-dimensional scene that is impossible."
Window Gazing
Look in two different directions simultaneously from this window!
Is this possible?
"This sort of double-perspective is impossible.
Drawings can suggest scenes that are physically impossible:
an illustration is not a real three-dimensional object, it merely suggest one.
After all, there is nothing impossible about a two-dimensional
representation of a three-dimensional scene.
It is only your mental reconstruction of this drawing as an accurate
three-dimensional physical scene that is impossible.
Swiss artist Sandro Del Prete created this illustration."
Nomad
"Cast your glance from the top of the exhibit;
observe how the outline of the man
merges with that of the animal."
"This is an example of an ambiguous illustration that 'flip-flops' in meaning.
The contours that define each interpretation are ambiguous,
which results in two separate interpretations."
FLOWERING OF LOVE
Do you perceive a rose or a couple kissing?
"This is an ambiguous illustration that "flip-flops" in meaning.
The petals of the rose can form the outline of a couple kissing
or that of a single rose.
The contours defining each interpretation are ambiguous,
resulting in the two separate interpretations.
Swiss artist Sandro Del Prete created this illusion"
DOLPHINS
What do you see in this picture-some dolphins swimming
or a starry-eyed couple?
"This is an ambiguous illustration that "flip-flops" in meaning."
IMPOSSIBLE ELEPHANT
Is there anything peculiar about this elephant?
Will it have difficulties walking?
"Look at the legs.
They appear strange and are not joined in the right manner.
Note how the legs seem to disappear into thin air.
This sort of elephant cannot exist.
A normal figure has enclosed boundaries while this figure has open ones.
In addition, several lines on the figure are ambiguous,
in that a single line can be interpreted as both the inside or outside of a figure.
This is not a normal occurrence in nature.
Stanford psychologist Roger Shepard created this impossible elephant."
Want more?
Try this.. posted by yerrdude