Six Girls, Five Pairs of Legs: The Optical Illusion
How Illusions Trick the Brain
Optical illusions show that perception is interpretation,
not a perfect record. As the article notes, “perception is
not a direct recording of reality,” and even careful viewers can be misled.
The Viral Image
A recent illusion depicts six girls on a couch, yet
“only five pairs of legs appear to be visible.”
The scene feels impossible at first, fueling online confusion and debate.
Why It Works
The brain uses shortcuts, assuming patterns and symmetry.
In this case, “overlapping shapes, shared contours, and perspective”
cause one girl’s legs to blend into others, briefly convincing viewers that someone is missing limbs.
Seeing Clearly Again
Closer inspection reveals the image is unedited: “no one is missing limbs—
only obscured by visual coincidence.” The illusion collapses once small
details are traced, highlighting how attention reshapes perception.
