Brains

Oct. 14th, 2007 09:33 pm
sister_luck: (Default)
[personal profile] sister_luck
I'd like to share something I found in [livejournal.com profile] wisteria_'s lastest linkspam.

Some of you will have seen it already elsewhere but it's so fascinating and frustrating that it deserves another mention. Go here and look at the dancing lady. Which way is she turning for you?

The frustrating thing is that I know the theory of how this picture works. I also know myself. I am a right-brain person. I've seen her turn anti-clockwise twice. Once after I spotted a spelling mistake on the same page and the other time it just happened.

The boyfriend of course sees her turning anti-clockwise, but can will her to turn the other way, too.

On the other hand, there are also lots of pictures that work similarly. They're not animated gifs but depending on how your brain interprets the picture it's for example either an old hag or a pretty young woman. With these, the switching isn't as difficult for me. I'm not even sure it says something about a left- or right-brain preference. Then, I'm also left-handed, so my brain is different anyway.

Date: 2007-10-14 08:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frenchani.livejournal.com
Argg you had to ppst that just before I go to bed!

I saw her turning anti-clockwise first but then I made her turn clockwise and now it's only clockwise and I can't get her to switch back!

Date: 2007-10-14 08:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frenchani.livejournal.com
ETA: I can switch easily now, I just have to focuse on any detail on the page and she's turning anti-clockwise again.

Date: 2007-10-15 03:35 pm (UTC)
ext_11565: (Default)
From: [identity profile] sister-luck.livejournal.com

I can't seem to make her switch direction. I think it's partly because I want it so much, thus getting all emotional about it...

Date: 2007-10-14 09:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frances-lievens.livejournal.com
I see her turning clockwise, although I always considered myself a leftbrainer. Strange. I can't will her to move into the other direction.

Now, I'm wondering whether I know the difference between clockwise and anti-clockwise...

Picturewise I have the most problems with making shapes come up or go down (you know with shadows), because in my world the sun always shines from up.

Date: 2007-10-15 03:37 pm (UTC)
ext_11565: (Default)
From: [identity profile] sister-luck.livejournal.com

Clockwise is the direction the hands in a clock go - that's basically left, right? (I'm crap with left and right and if it hadn't been for [livejournal.com profile] distractogirl I still wouldn't know how to turn a screw to tighten or loosen it.

Date: 2007-10-15 06:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frances-lievens.livejournal.com
I know about screws, we've got the letter-word TROL for that: Toe naar Rechts en Open naar Links (You can make the same word in German).

Clockwise is to the left -- when you're an outside observer, and to the right when you're standing in the middle of the circle. Hence the idea of going clockwise or counter-clockwise when playing games with someone in the middle of the circle (is what P. says -- can you guess he's been a boy scout?)

You say: "that's basically left, right?" and I read "that's basically from left to right" and thought, "but now she's mixing it up completely"... and then I noticed the (unintentional?) pun. *slaps forehead*

Date: 2007-10-15 06:49 pm (UTC)
ext_11565: (Default)
From: [identity profile] sister-luck.livejournal.com

Yeah, you can't explain clockwise properly without a clockface I think. I realized that I was confusing myself and that's why I made the pun. (And to hide the fact that I was confusing myself.)

ZROL would sound horrible - righty tighty, lefty loosey is much much better. (Though I'm slightly at a loss how to spell it.)

Date: 2007-10-15 06:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frances-lievens.livejournal.com
Oh darn, I forgot about the German spelling of Tsoe. ;-)

Date: 2007-10-15 12:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] distractogirl.livejournal.com
I'm obviously very onesided in my brain. I can only make her go one way. I'm now very frustrated, and I'm supposed to be making a poster - not willing an imaginary lady to go a different direction!

Date: 2007-10-15 03:38 pm (UTC)
ext_11565: (Default)
From: [identity profile] sister-luck.livejournal.com

The more frustrated you get, the more difficult it is...

Date: 2007-10-15 03:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] distractogirl.livejournal.com
That's why I stopped and went to bed. I shall try again later on today, when I get back from Amateur Dramatics.

Date: 2007-10-15 03:45 pm (UTC)
ext_11565: (Default)
From: [identity profile] sister-luck.livejournal.com

Well, then you'll be in a creative frame of mind - not sure that'll help. Unless you've been seeing her turn anti-clockwise up to now.

Date: 2007-10-15 03:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] distractogirl.livejournal.com
I decided to have a go just now, lo and behold I managed to get her to switch, and then switch back. *proud*

Date: 2007-10-15 01:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] so-sharlemaine.livejournal.com
I'm calling bullshit on that picture. She goes both ways for me. I watched it for about 5 minutes and she would put her foot down and start turning the other way. I think it's rigged.

For what it's worth, I've always thought myself to be very right brained in my personal life, yet when it comes to my work I'm extremely left brained. I like linear and logical thinking at work.

Date: 2007-10-15 03:40 pm (UTC)
ext_11565: (Default)
From: [identity profile] sister-luck.livejournal.com

It's not rigged! You can have two people looking at it at the same time and they see her going in different directions. It's all a matter of perspective and how you interpret the picture.

You are obviously good at both and can switch between modes.

Date: 2007-10-15 02:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] so-sharlemaine.livejournal.com
Oh, another funny thing....the first thing James said was, "Her nipples are hard."

Is there a catagory for cock-brained?

Date: 2007-10-15 03:43 pm (UTC)
ext_11565: (Default)
From: [identity profile] sister-luck.livejournal.com

Yeah, her breasts look really perky. Which I find slightly distracting.

Date: 2007-10-15 04:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] comava.livejournal.com
I saw her going counter-clockwise for the longest time and then had to look away, squint a bit and suddenly she switched... and now I can't get it to switch back again! It's the darnest thing.

But it's awfully fascinating, thanks for the link. I'm going to send this along.

Date: 2007-10-15 04:37 pm (UTC)
ext_11565: (Default)
From: [identity profile] sister-luck.livejournal.com

Yay! I can make her switch - with a little trick. By squinting at her and looking at her sort of sideways with my left eye closer to her I can make her turn anti-clockwise. Then after a while she switches again.

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