You glance at the picture, spot the obvious markings, and come up with a number. Easy, right? But, as with many visual brain teasers that go viral online, this puzzle has a clever twist designed to challenge how closely you’re paying attention.
The image in question displays green dots arranged in a cross-like shape, which initially draws the viewer’s eyes to the center. Most people immediately begin counting the most prominent dots, those clearly placed in the design, and confidently assume they’ve found the answer. However, the real challenge isn’t just about counting what’s obvious—it’s about spotting the subtle, hidden details that are skillfully embedded in the puzzle.
This riddle plays into a common cognitive bias where our brains are wired to filter out minor details when we’re focused on a larger pattern. That means while you might be focusing on the main part of the image, your brain could be ignoring elements that are just as important to solving the puzzle. The truth is, our minds are conditioned to prioritize efficiency over thoroughness, which works well in many daily situations but can trip us up when it comes to tasks requiring close attention to detail. So, when someone asks “how many dots are there?” your instinct is to count only the clearly visible ones—in this case, the seven prominent black dots arranged in the cross formation. But that’s only part of the answer. The real test lies in your ability to dig deeper and look for hidden elements.
