difficult upon closer inspection. When we see a grid made of squares, our brains automatically assume counting them will take only a few seconds.
Then reality hits.
As you begin counting, you realize that there are squares hidden inside larger squares. Some overlap. Others share boundaries. Suddenly, what seemed like a straightforward task becomes a mental workout.
This creates what psychologists call a cognitive conflict. Your brain expects an easy answer but encounters complexity instead. That gap between expectation and reality keeps you engaged.
The result?
You stare longer.
You
