Sharp Brains: Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health News

Brain Teaser for Stress

Here is a very quick test to determine your stress level. Read the following description completely before looking at the picture.

The picture below was used in a case study on stress levels at St. Mary’s Hospital. Look at both dolphins jumping out of the water. The dolphins are identical. A closely monitored, scientific study revealed that, in spite of the fact that the dolphins are identical, a person under stress would find differences between the two dolphins. The more differences a person finds between the dolphins, the more stress that person is experiencing.

Look at the photograph, and if you find more than one or two differences, you may want to take a vacation or at least get a massage.

Click here to see the picture before reading more.

How did you do? Do you need a vacation?! Apparently I do!

Hope you got a good laugh! On a serious note, laughter is a great way to reduce stress and boost immune function. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, call a friend who makes you chuckle or head off for a comedy club. You’ll feel better for it!

Further Reading

Categories: Brain Teasers, Health & Wellness

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55 Responses

  1. eleanor says:

    *chuckles*

  2. Caroline says:

    Glad you liked it Eleanor! Were you pretty stressed out?!

  3. Anthony says:

    Scared me at first…….and then lol.

  4. Caroline says:

    Did it show that you needed a vacation pretty badly?! Glad you enjoyed it!

  5. [...] Further Reading on Stress and Memory Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky, Ph.D. A Primer on Multitasking Simple Stress Test Quick Stress Buster Is there such thing as GOOD stress? Learn More about Brain Fitness Join our Message Boards Find the Right Program Tags: control, empowerment, emwave, hippocampus, meditation, robert Sapolsky, short term memory, Stress, yoga [...]

  6. sandra says:

    brilliant scared the life out of me at first but really good joke

  7. Caroline says:

    Sandra,
    I hope we didn’t add to the stress in your life! ;-)

    Glad you liked it!

  8. Mark says:

    TOO funny…and I got the “joke” right away!!!

  9. Alvaro says:

    what joke :-)

  10. Robbie J says:

    …some times laughter is the pill we need…

  11. Alvaro says:

    a very good pill!

  12. [...] We men know we are hard to lead, and that can be stressful for you and for us. You should know that stress affects short term memory, so it is important to be able to manage stress well, with meditation or other methods. Check here your level of stress to see how much this point applies to you. Please remember, laughing is good for your brain.   [...]

  13. James says:

    All rightey! This did make me LOL!! Thank you for posting it.

  14. paul says:

    haven’t seen any difference between the both dolphins. They are the same. So, I am relaxed :) ) :) )

  15. anon says:

    I thought the message from this would be that we actually are stressed after being told seeing differences is abnormal, then seeing a difference.

  16. Venkat says:

    Laughing out loud really helps..

    Thanks for those laughs

  17. Alvaro says:

    Reading about so many laughs brings me a nice smile :-)

  18. Unkown says:

    umm..that was not very funny because i am so stressed but anyho..i just did some research on stress and LIVE LIFE THE WAY YOU WANT BECAUASE THERE IS ONLY ONE.
    love yall

  19. Unkown says:

    just kiddin that was very funny caroline

  20. Alvaro says:

    Hello unkown, Caroline is taking some days off but will transmit the feeling…I understand how it may have surprised you at first, but am happy to see it eventually helped you release a bit of tension.

    Thank you for stopping by

  21. I loved it. I used to work on a dairy farm and everyone loves dolphins. A wonderful picture and I had to laugh.

  22. yahobahne says:

    I saw one dolphin and one cow. Am I stressed out and need a vacation?

  23. malyn says:

    haha..it almost freak me out..*joke* nice one!

  24. Raoul says:

    I must have zero stress because I saw no difference in the two dolphins. (g)

  25. Alvaro says:

    Raoul, that’s strange. You didn’t see 2 cows :-)

  26. whisky says:

    I think I need to post a link to that in my journal. All of humanity should take that test.

  27. Alvaro says:

    And not just humanity. What would a third dolphin see in that picture…

  28. Janet says:

    That was hysterical! Thanks for the stress relief!

  29. Alvaro says:

    You’re very welcome, Janet :-)

  30. Sandy20 says:

    oh my gosh. I thought I was taking a serious test. It did kinda freak me out but in the end it was funny.

  31. ali says:

    truly nice

  32. blau augen says:

    Haha, that’s great I’m REALLY stressed ^^

  33. It’s amazing.Hope I can apply it in my work.

  34. Awais says:

    the pic was a good fun for me…….

  35. sumanth says:

    there’s only one difference…the first one’s a dolphin and the other a cow!! i’m not stressed out..LOL

  36. shumbies says:

    What dolphins?

  37. tom says:

    Lol. The apprehension and anxiety of seeing many differences were soon drowned by the release of endorphins created by my laughter.

  38. Alvaro says:

    Also, one dolphin is to the Left, another one to the Right. Very clear difference, that no one has noticed so far…

  39. Rajendra Barve says:

    well i don’t see no dolphins or cows..i thought they were humans:)

  40. Neha says:

    THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER! I was like “am I really that stressed out because of the upcoming test tomorrow or is this for real?” hahahhaa…wow! i love laughing and it sure is a stress-reliever for me always! I LOVE THIS SITE AS WELL!…it’s too good! keep posting awesome brain teasers! loved it!

  41. Fitness says:

    That was great, after a long day, but I saw 3 Dolphins ;)

  42. Fatima says:

    This is really the best site for me as an Occupational Therapist. Thank u

  43. 3 Dolphins!

    Let me check again…

  44. Peter says:

    What about the guy behind the dolphin and cow – he kinda looks like my boss… Ant the desk he is sitting at and the piles of paperwork on the desk… And the different chats with wings flying arund in the air…. AAAAAAARRGH!!! NEED VACATION NOW!!!

  45. chris says:

    Nice post, keep up the good work!

  46. casisinus says:

    THANKS A LOT!! the comments are even better than the test itself…i thougt it must be a mistake with my monitor, then i laughed to tears

  47. Rosa says:

    that was very funny.
    i was worried first ,

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