brain trick
Cognitive optical illusion
A brain trick is a phenomenon that exploits how the mind processes information—an optical illusion, memory quirk, or perceptual glitch that reveals the shortcuts and limitations of cognition: This brain trick makes you see colors that aren't there.
The term appears frequently in popular science and social media content about psychology and neuroscience.
Systematic deviation from rationality
- heuristicPractical solving shortcut
- mental shortcutQuick cognitive approximation
- framing effectBias from how options are worded
- primingMaking ready beforehand
anchoring · confirmation bias · placebo · nocebo · false memory · déjà vu · tip of tongue · attention
Misleading visual perception
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- afterimageLingering visual impression
- EscherDutch impossible-geometry artist
trompe l'oeil · forced perspective · anamorphosis · blind spot · change blindness
Puzzle demanding clever thought
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- logic puzzleProblem solved by deduction
- lateral thinkingIndirect problem-solving approach
- mind gamePsychological ploy to unsettle
mental challenge · conundrum · word puzzle · rebus · cryptic · paradox · enigma · matchstick puzzle
Spatial mnemonic system
- method of lociSpatial mnemonic technique
- acronymWord made from initials
- acrosticVertically spelled hidden message
- chunkingDividing into manageable parts
visualization · association · linking · spaced repetition · memorization · encoding · mental imagery · rhyme
cognitive bias
Systematic deviation from rationality
- heuristicPractical solving shortcut
- mental shortcutQuick cognitive approximation
- framing effectBias from how options are worded
priming · anchoring · confirmation bias · placebo · nocebo · false memory · déjà vu · tip of tongue · attention · working memory
optical illusion
Misleading visual perception
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- afterimageLingering visual impression
Escher · trompe l'oeil · forced perspective · anamorphosis · blind spot · change blindness
brainteaser
Puzzle demanding clever thought
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- logic puzzleProblem solved by deduction
- lateral thinkingIndirect problem-solving approach
mind game · mental challenge · conundrum · word puzzle · rebus · cryptic · paradox · enigma · matchstick puzzle · number puzzle
memory palace
Spatial mnemonic system
- method of lociSpatial mnemonic technique
- acronymWord made from initials
- acrosticVertically spelled hidden message
chunking · visualization · association · linking · spaced repetition · memorization · encoding · mental imagery · rhyme · first-letter
brain trickclear thinking
rational thought · mental clarity · logical analysis · critical thinking
trick, brain, tricky, brainy, trickery, tricked, brainless, trickster, brainstorm