Do You See Faces in Everyday Objects? That’s Pareidolia

Ever spotted a face in a cloud, rock, or tile? That’s pareidolia—a brain quirk where we see faces or patterns in random things. It stems from our evolutionary need to quickly recognize faces for survival, helping us detect friends, foes, or emotional cues.

Even something as ordinary as a worn tile can seem to have eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Our brains are wired to find meaning—sometimes even where none exists.