Ambiguous images, like one that can be seen as either a fish or a plane, illustrate how perception works. Such images are interpreted differently by different people because the brain can focus on either smaller, detailed shapes or broader, more abstract contours. Seeing a fish may indicate that your visual system is zeroing in on enclosed shapes, suggesting a detail-oriented style of perception. Conversely, seeing a plane may indicate your brain is grouping larger outlines into a coherent whole, reflecting a big-picture approach. Importantly, both interpretations are valid; they simply reveal how your brain is processing visual information in that moment rather than defining a permanent personality trait.
For decades, popular psychology has promoted the idea of left-brained versus right-brained thinking. According to this framework, left-brained individuals are logical, analytical, and skilled at math or language, while right-brained individuals are creative, intuitive, and artistic. This neat division of cognitive styles is widely recognized in culture, used to explain differences in learning preferences, hobbies, and professional strengths. People often enjoy identifying with one “side” of the brain, believing it offers insight into their natural abilities and tendencies.
Modern neuroscience, however, has largely debunked the left-brain/right-brain myth. Brain imaging shows that both hemispheres work together for nearly every cognitive task, whether it involves mathematics, language, problem-solving, or creative endeavors. Tasks that were once thought to rely on one hemisphere alone actually engage multiple regions across the brain. While certain functions may be slightly more dominant in one hemisphere, the idea that people are strictly left- or right-brained is misleading. In reality, cognitive processing is dynamic and distributed, with both sides contributing continuously to thinking, perception, and action.
When you view an ambiguous image, several brain regions are actively involved in interpretation. The visual cortex first processes shapes, edges, and contrasts, detecting the physical characteristics of the stimulus. The parietal and frontal regions then work to assign meaning, comparing the shapes to stored memories, learned patterns, and familiar forms. This pattern-recognition system constantly seeks coherence, trying to match what you see to known objects. The “fish” or “plane” outcome is not a reflection of a permanent personality trait, but a snapshot of your brain’s current interpretation, which can shift with attention, context, or repeated viewing.
Tests like these are widely loved because they tap into a fundamental human desire to understand identity and cognition. Optical illusions and perception tests provide an entertaining narrative about how one thinks, offering a small sense of insight into the mind’s functioning. Even though they are not diagnostic tools, they highlight the flexibility and subjectivity of perception. The satisfaction comes not from definitive answers, but from observing how the brain constructs meaning from ambiguous inputs and appreciating the diversity of ways people interpret the same stimulus.
Ultimately, the “fish or plane” phenomenon and similar visual puzzles remind us that perspective shapes experience. What we see first or most prominently reflects the brain’s immediate focus, influenced by prior experience, context, and momentary attention, rather than a fixed mental category. While it may be tempting to categorize oneself as detail-oriented or big-picture based on such images, the reality is more fluid. Perception is dynamic, context-dependent, and shared across hemispheres. These exercises, therefore, are valuable not for labeling personality, but for illustrating the remarkable adaptability of human cognition and the role of perspective in shaping our understanding of the world.
