It looks deceptively simple: count the number of squares in a grid. Yet 92% of people who attempt this puzzle fail to get the correct answer. The reason lies not in complexity, but in how our brains process overlapping shapes.

At first glance, the challenge seems trivial. You are presented with a 3×3 grid and asked to count the squares. Most people glance at it, count nine small boxes, and move on —…

