Mind-boggling optical illusion leaves viewers stumped – can you figure out if the object is going up or down the stairs?

MOST people can’t tell which direction an object is traveling on a staircase in a mind-boggling optical illusion.

The 3D Schröder Staircase is a new interpretation of the traditional 2D image.

YouTubeThis optical illusion has people stumped about which way the stairs are going[/caption]

In the traditional illusion, a staircase is seen from above. The image is then rotated, showing the same exact staircase despite the angle change.

In the 3D version of the illusion, an object is placed on the staircase.

Initially, the object appears to be at the top of the stairs.

But then the interpretation switches when the object is rotated by 180 degrees.

The object, originally perceived as on the top step, suddenly appears as if it’s on the bottom step.

The most shocking part of the video comes when the artist reveals a side view of the staircase.

The creation received the 2020 Illusion of the Year award in the Best Illusion of the Year Contest.

A video showing off the illusion was posted to YouTube, gaining over 2million views and hundreds of comments.

“Infuriating,” wrote one person. “I watched it like 10 times, trying to keep concentrartion, [sic] to hold on the initial position. And every time its ‘oops, missed it’. Fantastic.”

Another wrote: “It’s so interesting how our brain is processing this simple graphic information and interpreting it in so different ways without us really noticing it…

“And amazing how a human brain is able to invent these illusions!”

“I was looking at the staircase when it was upside down and I blinked and it looked normal, god my brain exploded,” wrote a third person.

Last month a brilliant optical illusion showed a chess queen hidden by a “camouflage invisibility cloak”.

And an optical illusion house is distracting drivers as it appears to be spinning thanks to clever design.

Meanwhile, a mind-bending teaser showing an elephant or a village claims to reveal a lot about a person’s personality.

And, a mind-boggling illusion with 16 hidden animal and human faces is set to test viewers’ eyesight and their patience.