Only a genius can spot the number 8 in a sea of 9s in less than a minute

Not everyone can solve this

brainteaser

in under a minute, so if you do, pat yourself on the back! Brainteasers, riddles, and puzzles not only entertain but also provide several

cognitive benefits

.
The study showed that some effects of ageing are actually reversible with daily puzzles. There will also be improvement in the detail focus and memory with increased

critical reasoning skills

. Additionally, this daily

mental challenge

is sure to give you that “feel-good” neurotransmitter dopamine boost.
This enhances the peaks of dopamine in a sense of accomplishment, which improves moods and motivation and therefore makes it engaging enough to be a rewarding habit when solving puzzles.
In this particular brain teaser, you are to locate the

hidden number eight

within a sea of number nines. The numbers appear on a black background so they are white and are repeated enough times that some will find it difficult to locate the lone number eight.

Take a minute to look at the picture and see if you can find the number eight in less than a minute. As powerful as our brains are, they are not perfect. Scientists are still researching the neurobiological mechanisms that

optical illusions

and brainteasers initiate and why they can sometimes prove so difficult. One way brainteasers like this often stump us is because of the assumptions that our brain takes into account to make complicated activities easy.

In this case, the repetition of the number nines might trick your brain into assuming that’s all you’re seeing, making it harder to detect the hidden number eight. Our brains tend to prioritize familiar patterns, which can sometimes obscure what’s actually present in the image.
Scroll down and see if you were right that you had seen the number eight. If you still cannot make it out, here is a clue: Look at the bottom left corner of the image.
And voila! The number eight was right there in front of you. If this puzzle has got you stumped, do not worry. Just keep practising with such puzzles to hone your observation skills and cognitive power.