At first glance, the image appears to be a simple, almost hypnotic spiral, a pattern that draws the eye inward and seems to twist endlessly toward a central point. Its hypnotic nature can be both mesmerizing and slightly disorienting, making it difficult to focus on any one part of the image for too long. But if you slow down and pay closer attention, you’ll notice that the design isn’t a spiral at all. Instead, it’s composed of several perfectly defined concentric circles, each layered within the other, creating a visual illusion that challenges your perception.

The task is simple in theory: count how many circles you can distinguish. Yet in practice, it is surprisingly tricky. Some circles may seem to blend into one another due to subtle differences in shading or line thickness, while others appear to almost vanish entirely at the periphery. Your mind wants to interpret the image as a continuous spiral, a natural tendency because spirals are visually familiar and psychologically compelling. However, the reality is far more precise and ordered. This tension between what your eyes perceive and what is actually present forms the essence of the visual challenge.