In this image, do you see something other than black and white? Does it matter if you look directly at one of the black blocks, vs. at one of the intersections?

While there are really only black blocks and white spaces in the grid, the high contrast black and white areas fool the eyes into perceiving a gray circle at each intersection. The illusion results from Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a fun and interactive version of the famous Stroop test, often used in neu­ropsy­cho­log­i­cal eval­u­a­tions to mea­sure response inhibition and cognitive flex­i­bil­ity. Performing well on the test requires strong concentration and self-regulation. Read the rest of this entry »

What is mental self-rotation?

It is the cognitive skill to imagine yourself in different locations in space and to imagine yourself moving accordingly. We need that skill in everyday activities such as reading a map or finding our car in the parking lot. Read the rest of this entry »

In which direction is the bus pictured below traveling?

Do you know the answer?

The only possible answers are “left” or “right.”

Still don’t know?

Keep reading for the answer and explanation… Read the rest of this entry »

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Please con­sider Linda, a 31-year-old woman, sin­gle and bright. When she was a stu­dent, in high school and in col­lege too, she was deeply involved in social jus­tice issues, and also par­tic­i­pated in environmental protests. Which is more prob­a­ble about Linda’s occu­pa­tion today? Read the rest of this entry »