This was something that Shades of Graeae discovered, which I think was found in Australia’s The Daily Telegraph.
If the dancer below, who seems to be completely in the nude (the graphic designer was too lazy to slap on some clothes?), is spinning counter-clockwise, you are left-brained (which is masculine). If she spins clockwise, you are right-brained (which is feminine) — generally speaking that is. I’m sure our brains are too complex to be defined by a spinning graphic, but I guess it’s a good/fun indicator.
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe
RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
“big picture” oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can “get it” (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking
My brain switches the direction of the dancer frequently. If I close the browser window or switch to another tab and then go back to the picture of the dancer later, more often than not, the dancer is circling in the other direction. Sometimes she switches multiple times in the span of a minute. It’s quite frustrating and I can’t help but feel a twinge of a loss of identity…
Maybe that’s why I struggle immensely with both Math and Creative Writing. But whereas I abhor Math, I greatly enjoy creative writing, which may be why I struggle with it too. I think, by default, I am more left-brain dominant though as that was the first direction she was spinning and is more often spinning in. With the exception of my huge struggle with Math, more of the traits for “left-brainers” fits me than those for “right-brainers.” I blame my struggle with Math on me stupidly cheating through elementary algebra in junior high anyway. Big mistake. Algebra is where it all starts…
I want to be a default right-brainer though. I can definitely see periods of my life where my right brain completely took over for a while…but we won’t go much into that…=)
Song of the Day (follow link to download page):
Green Day – “Brain Stew”
It looks like this thing is once again heating up the airwaves (via You’re History).
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I don’t see how the dancer can be spinning counter-clockwise. I’ve stared for a couple minutes with no luck. Guess I’m very right-brained.
From what I’ve read about it, the image is, first of all, 2-D, and it is intentionally designed so it doesn’t provide your brain with much to work with, so your brain fills in the details. And, theoretically, whichever side that’s most dominant will be the side your brain turns to first. (But this apparently is pretty weak-sauce science, and it really shouldn’t be counted on too heavily.)
So…I would think, you can easily trick your brain for this image. Maybe by leaning back far from the screen, making your eyes blur (like for those way-too-popular-than-they-should’ve-been 3-D image books back in the day), and forcing your brain to see it differently. I don’t know if this works for me personally. It sometimes does I think. All I know is it seems to switch a lot more frequently…maybe I’m used to it. It doesn’t bother me much though…after I read how insubstantial this test is. I do think it gives an idea or very general ballpark though.
Wow…I’m really right-brained right now. I guess it’s cos I’m super tired and my brain isn’t paying attention to every little detail and analyzing or whatever.
just a hint:
When she spins counter-clockwise, the left arm is the one that’s sort of extended outward, and the left leg is raised. Visualize it. Make it happen. See the dancer. Be the dancer. Wax on, Wax off.
I saw both. Mind you, I’m one of those weird types… I don’t always see Necker cubes as cubes , for example, but often as just shapes.