Only 9% of people can see the colours in this mind-boggling...

Only 9% of people can see the colours in this mind-boggling optical illusion that reveals your hidden personality traits

Published on April 01, 2025 at 02:00 AM

THIS mind-boggling optical illusion is bound to get you scratching your head – especially since only 9% of people can spot the trick.

Everyone can see see the iconic painting in black and white and the one with diagonal lines going through it – but few can spot the actual colour of the latter image.

Girl with a Pearl Earring optical illusion. — Can you see this image in colour? Incredible optical illusion only appears for some

Only those with a genius IQ can solve the task of figuring out the pesky trick.

So focus hard in order to solve the classical art illusion which shows two differing photos with more in common than you think.

If you can figure out the illusion, and see where the actual colours are in the photo, well done because you are in the 9% of people who can see the trick.

But if you can't see where the colour actually is, you need to concentrate and focus in on the details of the photo with lines on it.

Look carefully to figure out the clever distinction between the lines and the paint colour.

London-based illusion attraction Twist Museum displayed the bizarre phenomenon which puzzled visitors.

The Girl with a Pearl Earring exhibit is an example of “colour assimilation” – where viewing from a distance can make it seem like the original photo has been reprinted in colour.

If you haven't figured out the answer, you may need to do some more brainteasers.

These puzzles are good for your brain power and can improve your vision and IQ.

According to studies, doing brainteasers often can train you r cognitive ability and eyesight.

Award-winning psychologist Dr Lalitaa Suglani even revealed how perception-based activities that engage the brain, like the image provided, can highlight different aspects of a person’s personality, including their emotional and mental states.

She said: “The way we interpret optical illusions often highlights how unique and subjective our perception is.”

How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me?

Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions.

Some benefits include:

Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility.
Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function.
Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes.
Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus.
Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief.

If you still can't figure out the trick here, don't worry.

The museum actually revealed the answers to its guests.

The museum said: “Look at the picture from a distance, it’s in colour right? Now look closer.

“Up close, you can see that the image is actually black and white. It has coloured lines on top of it.

“Housed in London West End-based multi-sensory illusion attraction, Twist Museum, The Girl with a Pearl Earring is an exhibit that displays two images of the same girl – one appearing in black and white and one appearing in colour.”

They described the shocking illusion and the differences between the two images, as well as the trick behind the illusion

“Up close, you can see that the image is actually black and white. It has coloured lines on top of it.

The museum explained why we think the photo with lines is coloured – even though it is black and white.

The shocking answer to the illusion therefore indicates that both pictures are in fact black and white, but the one with diagonal lines has coloured lines.

This makes the picture appear that is coloured, even though it is originally identical to the left image.

“From far away the colour of the black and white photo seems to shift towards that of the lines, tricking the mind into thinking it is a colour version of the same painting. Why does this happen?

“This is called ‘colour assimilation’. It’s not yet known exactly why this happens, but one explanation is ‘neural blurring’ in which brain cells average out the light signals that fall on them.”

Psychologist Dr Lalitaa Suglani also explained how our personality influences our pereception.

She said: “The way we interpret optical illusions often highlights how unique and subjective our perception is.

“This subjectivity is influenced by: Cognitive filters – our past experiences, cultural background, and learned behaviours shape how we see and process information.

“Personality traits – those with high openness to experience might find abstract illusions intriguing and are more likely to explore multiple interpretations.

“Cognitive biases – optical illusions can also expose tendencies like confirmation bias (seeing what we expect to see based on previous experiences) or even optimism/pessimism depending on whether someone perceives an illusion positively or negatively.”

Scroll down to see the answers highlighted and for more brainteasers that are bound to get you thinking hard.