IF you want to test your eyesight and sharpen your brain, this is the challenge for you.
Hidden in this tricky grid of identical emojis is one face that’s slightly different, but only those with exceptional attention to detail will find it.
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The image has been created by private investigation company Adley Barton and, according to them, a staggering 9 out of 10 people who attempt this puzzle can’t find the difference in under 15 seconds.
Can you beat the clock and prove you have a detective’s eye?
Take a good, close look at the image below and start your timer.
Why Puzzles Are Your Brain’s Best Friend
Whether you find the odd one out in three seconds or three minutes, just attempting this kind of visual brainteaser is a huge win for your mind.
The cognitive challenge of a “spot the difference” puzzle works wonders for your executive functions, which are the mental processes that help you plan, focus, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks.
Specifically, these puzzles significantly boost your selective attention – the ability to focus on specific features while ignoring all the distracting background noise.
Think of it as training your brain to filter out the clutter, making you more efficient and focused in your everyday life, whether you’re reviewing a work email or looking for your keys.
Additionally, researchers have found that regularly engaging in such activities helps build cognitive reserve, which is like a protective buffer for your brain against age-related decline.
So, the more you practice, the more resilient your mind becomes.
Need a Hint? Try Thinking Like a Detective
If you’re stuck, the creators suggest taking it line by line, the same way an investigator would approach a crime scene.
Detectives are trained to scan slowly and methodically, checking every detail instead of rushing.
By breaking the puzzle down row by row, you train your brain to notice the tiny differences that most people overlook, exactly the skill that separates an average observer from a true investigator.
Remember, the difference is incredibly subtle—look closely at the position and shape of the features on each face.
Ready for the big reveal?
Using puzzles as a pre-sleep ritual
Dreams’ Sleep Expert, Sammy Margo, has shareed her expert advice on using brainteasers and optical illusions as pre-sleep rituals.
- Puzzle ‘pairing’ with scent
“Lightly scenting your space with lavender, chamomile or other scents while you puzzle creates a sensory link which your brain will start to associate with rest. Over time, the combination of the puzzle and calming scents may become a sleep cue in itself.”
- Try the ‘reverse puzzle trick’
“Instead of working towards completing a crossword or sudoku, deliberately stop just short of finishing. Leaving that last word or number undone, may trick the brain into feeling closure without over-engaging, avoiding the frustration that can keep you up.”
- Double it up with doodling
“If puzzles aren’t your thing, try doodling alongside them. The repetitive hand movements are soothing and combining it with a puzzle engages both logic and creativity – a surprisingly powerful wind-down for the brain.”
- Use mini puzzles as a ‘thought swap’
“Keep a pocket-sized puzzle book by your bed. When intrusive thoughts creep in at 2am, swap them for a quick and easy puzzle. It’s a gentle distraction that redirects your focus away from anxiety and back towards sleep.”
The Answer
Did you manage to beat the clock?
The odd one out is located in the seventh row from the top and the second column from the left.
The tiny difference is that this particular smiley face has a much thinner mouth line compared to all the others.
See it circled in the image below!
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