The human brain has long been captivated by optical illusions, which deceive our senses and cast doubt on our understanding of reality. They put our capacity for visual processing, concentration, and pattern recognition in the face of chaos to the test. The brain teaser that went viral today presents you with an intriguing challenge: In just six seconds, can you locate the digits 973 among dozens of 975’s?
It may appear simple at first, but don’t be duped. The purpose of this visual puzzle is to assess your mental acuity and attention to detail.
Why This Optical Illusion Is So Difficult
At first glance, this puzzle looks like a sea of identical numbers—975 repeated over and over again. But hidden somewhere in the crowd is the number 973. What makes this illusion so tricky is a phenomenon known as visual crowding. When similar shapes or patterns are packed closely together, our brains struggle to distinguish slight differences, especially under time pressure.
Both 975 and 973 share the same starting digits, and the only difference is the last digit—a “5” versus a “3”. Because our brains tend to process numbers as wholes rather than digit-by-digit when scanning rapidly, it’s easy to gloss over the small detail that makes 973 stand out. The visual similarity between “5” and “3,” especially in certain fonts, adds to the confusion.
Is It Possible to Beat the 6-Second Timer?

Yes, it is possible—but only if you have sharp attention to detail and a quick scanning strategy. People with strong pattern recognition skills or a naturally high visual acuity (often referred to as “eagle eyes”) can often isolate anomalies like 973 in record time.
Here are a few tips to beat the clock:
- Don’t read each number completely—focus on scanning just the last digit of each group.
- Use a zig-zag scanning pattern to prevent your eyes from getting locked in one area.
- Practice helps—doing similar puzzles can train your brain to spot visual discrepancies faster.
So, can you spot 973 in under 6 seconds? Give it a try and see if your eyes are as sharp as an eagle’s!