Can this optical illusion tell if you're an extrovert or introvert? Yes, apparently it can

Most of us have, at some point, taken a random personality quiz online that promised to reveal our deepest truths: whether we’re a dog person or a cat person, which "Friends" character we are, or what type of bread matches our soul. But this one? It’s a little more visual. And a little more intriguing.

Here’s the deal: take a look at the image above. What do you see first?

Some people glance at it and instantly say, “That’s a big ol’ lip!” Others squint and say, “Hang on… that’s a snowy landscape with trees and a path through the mountains.” Whatever your answer, it’s supposedly a direct line to the inner workings of your personality—whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert.



If you saw lips first…
Congratulations, you’re most likely an introvert.

Weird, right? But think about it. If your brain locked onto the lips first, it probably filtered out the background noise and honed in on the most simplistic, centralized shape. That means your brain is wired for focus, minimalism, and emotional subtlety.

Introverts tend to process the world more internally. They take their time, reflect, and usually prefer quality over quantity in friendships, conversations, and weekend plans. You’re not about the chaos of trying to figure out everything in one glance. You go deep, not wide.

So seeing the lips suggests you have a knack for recognizing emotion, are in touch with your inner self, and probably love staying home with a cozy blanket and a murder mystery doc on Netflix.

Plus, lips are often associated with expression—quiet, deliberate expression—which is very much the introvert’s game. You speak when there’s something worth saying.


If you saw the forested landscape first…
Well, hello there, social butterfly! You, my friend, are likely an extrovert.

Spotting the mountainous landscape, the trail, the trees, and all those little visual cues means your brain’s got range. Extroverts tend to take in more information from their surroundings at once, scanning for action, excitement, and maybe even a bit of drama.

You’re the kind of person who walks into a room and immediately clocks the vibe, the people, the snacks, and the exit route (just in case the vibe’s off). You’re energized by new experiences and love bouncing ideas off others. The more complex the scene, the more your brain lights up.

And that fits with seeing the landscape first—it shows you’re tuned into the “bigger picture,” always looking for what’s out there, what’s possible, what’s next. Your curiosity is on full blast. You’re probably the kind of person who starts group chats, plans spontaneous trips, and secretly loves karaoke nights.


So, is this actually science?

Well… kind of, but not exactly. Optical illusions work because they mess with the way your brain interprets visual cues. What you see first isn’t random—it’s shaped by your patterns of perception. And those patterns? Often tied to personality traits.

Researchers in psychology and neuroscience have found that introverts and extroverts do process stimuli differently. Introverts tend to have more blood flow in the frontal lobe (linked to deep thinking and planning), while extroverts are more stimulated by dopamine and novelty. So when an illusion presents two different visual possibilities, the one you latch onto might reveal something about how your brain is wired.

Is it a full-proof personality test? Of course not. But is it a surprisingly accurate gut-check? Absolutely.

Why we love stuff like this
Optical illusions are like tiny brain puzzles we can’t resist. They give us that “aha” moment and make us feel seen (sometimes a little too seen). Whether it’s for fun, for self-discovery, or to validate your belief that yes, you really are an ambivert with trust issues and great taste in music, these illusions hit a sweet spot.

Plus, they’re shareable. And in a world where your group chat is one cat meme away from collapse, who wouldn’t want to drop this illusion in and say, “Okay, real quick: what do you see first?”