Ever found yourself squinting at a picture, tilting your head, or blinking a few times to try and make sense of what you’re seeing? If so, you’ve been caught in the strange and fascinating world of optical illusions.

These visual puzzles aren’t just fun to look at—they’re a window into how our brains work. Every second, our minds process tons of information about depth, color, motion, and perspective. But when the signals get confusing or don’t quite match up, our brains fill in the blanks—and sometimes, they get it totally wrong.

Optical illusions play on these mental shortcuts, revealing that what we think we see isn’t always what’s actually there. Whether it’s a still image that appears to move, or an impossible shape that defies logic, these illusions expose the quirks in how we perceive the world.

In this article, we’re diving into 15 of the most jaw-dropping optical illusions out there—and breaking down exactly how they mess with your mind. Don’t be surprised if you start second-guessing what’s real by the time you’re done.