Right Brain Vs. Left Brain
February 15, 2009 at 6:01 pm 90 comments
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Back in my Journalspace days, a friend once commented that my brain should be donated to science when I die to figure out how it’s wired. It appears that I think a little differently, at least, from the point of view of the company that I keep. For one thing, I’m irreverent. I see humor on things that aren’t even supposed to be funny. But thanks to an article from Courier-Mail, I don’t have to expire to understand about how my brain functions. It puts the issue of the right brain vs. the left brain to the test.
The article displays a picture of a nude dancer. It asks you to look at the dancer. Do you see it turning clockwise or counter-clockwise?
In my case, I see it turning clockwise. According to the article, I use more of the right side of my brain. Most people see the dancer turning counter-clockwise, which means the left side of their brain predominates. It’s no wonder I’m weird.
I suggest that you take the right brain vs. left brain test by looking at the above picture. It’ll give you an idea on how your brain works. Do it now. You’ve got nothing to lose but your innocence.
Entry filed under: Blogroll, daily prompt. Tags: commentary, personal, personality test, right brain vs. left brain.
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Musings of a Random Mind 
1.
silvertag | February 16, 2009 at 10:00 am
I like that test. I’ve done it before and I see clockwise too, more right brain. Although I’ve tried before to get it to go the other way, I can’t. Could you?
2.
plaridel | February 16, 2009 at 11:03 am
you, too? you can make it go the other way temporarily by doing left brain functions like counting from 1 to 10.
3.
kate | February 19, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Both my husband and I saw it going clockwise.
4.
plaridel | February 20, 2009 at 3:40 pm
kate:
great. there are more of us than i initially thought after all.
5.
Den Relojo | February 26, 2009 at 7:48 am
I’m a bit skeptic. It seems like nobody would see it to move counter-clockwise. The image moves clockwise no matter who looks at it. But the test seems cool, though.
6.
plaridel | February 26, 2009 at 10:06 am
den:
it’s not really hard. any left-brain function will move it n the opposite direction. for example, working on a math problem while starting at the picture will do the trick.
7.
Den Relojo | March 8, 2009 at 9:37 am
Ok. I hope that works. LOL 🙂
8.
plaridel | March 8, 2009 at 4:24 pm
den:
try it. it should.
9.
gladys | January 12, 2010 at 12:35 am
no matter how many times i look at it, the woman is turning clockwise. ahahahah… i wanted to know if someone out there sees otherwise.
10.
plaridel | January 12, 2010 at 1:34 pm
gladys:
while staring at the picture, perform a left-brain activity like solving a math problem. that will do the trick.
11.
Phoebe Rutaquio | February 12, 2010 at 9:51 pm
cool. the first time I saw it, it was a on clockwise. I consciously tried to change the direction as I glared at it. but it wouldn’t. What I do to change it, is avert my gaze to a different area in the screen while keeping it in peripheral view. Then “tell it” to rotate in a different direction. haha im weird like that.
12.
plaridel | February 13, 2010 at 10:03 am
phoebe:
welcome to the club! 🙂
13.
slaveboi | February 21, 2010 at 9:44 pm
It’s making me dizzy.
But yeah, clockwise. I tried so hard to see it go counter, but I just couldn’t. 😦
14.
plaridel | February 22, 2010 at 2:46 pm
slaveboi:
according to the courier-mail article, most people see it as moving counter-clockwise. it seems bloggers are made from a different mould. they’re prone to use the right-side of their brain more. :).
15.
slaveboi | February 22, 2010 at 5:24 pm
That is awesome. :p
I’d like to link your blog to mine. I hope it’s okay?
16.
plaridel | February 23, 2010 at 12:05 am
slaveboi:
sure. i’ll link yours to mine as well.
17.
yan | March 12, 2010 at 4:48 am
@_@ this is weird. first time i saw it, it’s definitely clockwise! no matter how hard i looked at it. it’s still the same. then i tried what Phoebe Rutaquio suggested and it now turns counter-clockwise.
i tried playing with it, from counter to clockwise and v.v. and it’s freaking fuuuun!!! >8D
is it ok if i share this in my blog???
18.
plaridel | March 12, 2010 at 11:46 am
yan:
you can put it in your blog, too, if you want. just don’t forget to credit the original source. it’s from an article published in the courier-mail in australia. if you click on the picture, it’ll take you there. .
19.
yan | March 12, 2010 at 5:00 am
my dad says it’s counter-clockwise.
20.
plaridel | March 12, 2010 at 11:47 am
yan:
what happened to like father, like daughter? 🙂
21.
sub | September 10, 2010 at 11:44 pm
i see it otherwise. for me its counter clockwise. but there are times i see it moving clockwise..
22.
plaridel | September 11, 2010 at 3:07 pm
sub:
it’ll all depends on which side of the brain you’re using at a given moment. 🙂
btw, did you delete your blog?
23.
sub | September 13, 2010 at 12:33 am
AS ALWAYS its counter clockwise! am i different then? 😆
yup, i did. i think, im worse than you coz i clam up when im depressed over something (im not saying you are) but i kept everything and im still writing. you’re not reading them anyway so it doesnt matter right? 😛
24.
plaridel | September 13, 2010 at 9:58 am
sub:
i do read your posts as well as the others except that i’m grounded for making comments until 2011. 😦
25.
sub | September 13, 2010 at 5:31 pm
there are only four blogs i religiously follow and yours is one of them tapos hindi ko pa maramdaman ang presence. tampo ako honestly ‘coz you cant spare me your self-inflicted dilemma, but its ok. ikaw yan ikaw yan ehh. sa 2011 ko nlang share sa’yu blog ko.
26.
Eric | September 24, 2010 at 1:44 am
I saw it CCW though I was only using half of my brain 😉
Does it matter what language we count to ten in?
When I did the second time while counting to ten (in English) I was ambivalent on the direction. Could it be a hop? Nice hips 😉 but I could then accept the possibility of CW motion coming next though it did not seem logical to assume it would happen.
27.
plaridel | September 24, 2010 at 8:11 am
eric:
i don’ think it really matters. what matters is how you use your brain. 🙂
28.
Eric | September 24, 2010 at 8:28 am
That was all from the still photo.
Since seeing the image in motion, I’ve been able to view it rotating in both directions 🙂
thanks for your reply!
Eric
29.
ABL | October 23, 2010 at 10:19 am
I see the figure turn clockwise or counterclockwise and can turn it in mid stream back wards and forwards. wild
30.
plaridel | October 23, 2010 at 12:56 pm
abl:
awesome! not everybody can do that!
31.
d0d0ng | October 28, 2010 at 9:43 pm
I see it clockwise.
To see it counter-clockwise, follow the shadow of the feet below. It disappear meaning it is towards you in counter clockwise direction.
32.
plaridel | October 29, 2010 at 8:36 am
d0d0ng:
excellent! works like a charm.
33.
YouKai Shinigami | February 23, 2012 at 7:45 am
Just to say. I can switch the turns without making any math… I think it is only about focus.
But yes, clockwise was my first vision. Then it just changed by times.
34.
plaridel | February 23, 2012 at 11:26 am
youkai:
your power of concentration is exemplary.
35.
fradgeebots | April 4, 2012 at 12:57 am
I saw it clockwise at first, then it changed to counter, then clockwise again. Haa. Is my brain effed up?
36.
plaridel | April 4, 2012 at 1:38 pm
fradgeebots:
you’ve got a flexible mind which would be good on situations where survival is at stake. you’d do well on hunger games. 🙂
37.
fradgeebots | April 4, 2012 at 4:13 pm
O, it’s a relief hearing that. :)) Good morning!
38.
krn | April 10, 2012 at 11:44 am
weeeiirrddd. sorry i couldn’t help commenting. haha. i was staring at the picture, at first i saw the dancer turning clockwise, then after few minutes, I looked intently again and it was turning counter clockwise. it’s just weird. anyway, hi!
39.
plaridel | April 10, 2012 at 2:22 pm
krn:
congrats! you’re one those rare individuals who can switch their brain’s behaviour at will. like spiderman, beware, with power comes responsibility. 🙂
40.
krn | April 11, 2012 at 8:49 am
hahaha. this is really cool. 😀
41.
island traveler | November 29, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Love this post. A fun way to discover our brain that we often take for granted.
42.
plaridel | November 30, 2012 at 10:06 pm
island traveler:
it’s amazing how the dancer’s movement can be swayed by which side of the brain is dominant.
43.
yourothermotherhere | December 16, 2012 at 12:52 pm
I’m left-handed and I see her going clockwise.
44.
plaridel | December 16, 2012 at 1:50 pm
yourothermotherhere:
what do you know? i’m left-handed myself. 🙂
45.
yourothermotherhere | December 16, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Cool.
46.
Cam | January 30, 2013 at 9:12 pm
I see it as clockwise but I have at times seen it counter clockwise for a few moments its very strange how it can look different its almost an optical illusion.
47.
plaridel | January 31, 2013 at 9:43 am
cam:
the brain does work wonders. 🙂
48.
Bebekoh | July 28, 2013 at 11:33 pm
this is great… Initially, i see it doing clockwise… after staring at it for a while, it went counter-clockwise. What does that mean then? I can see them both clockwise and counter clockwise, when i want it to.
49.
Imelda | September 6, 2013 at 7:26 pm
It’s turning clock-wise. My eyes are getting crossed trying to see the counter-clockwise direction but they can’t find the opposite movement. This is very interesting.
50.
plaridel | September 6, 2013 at 10:35 pm
imelda:
you need to solve a math problem while looking at the picture. 🙂
51.
Imelda | September 6, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Unfortunately, I can’t get to the article. I am told (by the page that opened) that the action was forbidden.
52.
plaridel | September 6, 2013 at 10:36 pm
Imelda:
it looks like link was changed. i just corrected it.
53.
Kelly Kuhn | September 10, 2013 at 5:05 am
Cute story and test – however, no amount of math I do in my head (whether looking at the dancer or away, and then looking back) is helping me see it move counterclockwise. Sad!
54.
plaridel | September 10, 2013 at 9:52 am
kelly:
i don’t know but i can move it in either direction using “will=power.” try looking at the dancer without staring especially the shadow of her feet.
55.
milfordstreet | October 12, 2013 at 2:15 pm
The spinning woman so engrossed me that I almost forgot to “like” your post – ACK!
56.
plaridel | October 12, 2013 at 5:10 pm
milford:
just curious, did the woman bend to your will? 🙂
57.
milfordstreet | October 13, 2013 at 5:25 am
No, but that is not entirely unexpected.
58.
cynthiagrstacey | November 1, 2013 at 6:41 am
This is really cool. I see it clockwise.
59.
cynthiagrstacey | November 1, 2013 at 6:47 am
When I keep it in my peripheral vision and do multiplication tables in my head it goes the other way but only for a second as soon as I stop doing the math it goes back to clockwise. 🙂
60.
plaridel | November 1, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Cynthia:
it’s easier if you concentrate on her feet. 🙂
61.
ourvoicesraw | November 18, 2013 at 8:31 pm
i have looked at the image and realize that if you look long enough you will see when it changes from clockwise to counter clockwise. So since i have seen it turning both ways i guess i use both sides of my brain equally…even weirder than you i guess.
62.
plaridel | November 18, 2013 at 10:38 pm
ourvoicesraw:
you have an amazing will power. not many people can do that.
63.
ourvoicesraw | November 19, 2013 at 7:59 am
Oh thank you. That’s so nice of you to say. And I really am very strong willed so maybe the brain test really works.
64.
mybeautfulthings | November 22, 2013 at 12:43 pm
That’s really weird! How can anyone see that going counterclockwise. I see it going clockwise as you do! 🙂
65.
plaridel | November 22, 2013 at 12:53 pm
mybeautfulthings:
focus on her right foot touching the floor. 🙂
66.
John | November 28, 2013 at 11:56 am
Wow! First glance clearly clockwise, second counter-clockwise, then I had to work to see it clockwise again. Much easier for me to just look away to see her moving clockwise again. Not that this explains how I see the world, but perhaps my anthropomorphic tendencies when I write.
67.
plaridel | November 28, 2013 at 12:57 pm
john:
it has to do with having a strong will. you have the gift.
68.
tedstrutz | November 28, 2013 at 9:20 pm
The dancer moves clockwise for me…
69.
plaridel | November 28, 2013 at 9:23 pm
ted:
most people do.
70.
Francesca Smith | March 25, 2015 at 2:40 pm
I’ve heard of this test many times, but never ‘took’ it.
Is it odd that I can see it turning both ways? It starts off one way, then starts turning another way. Is it supposed to do that?
71.
plaridel | March 25, 2015 at 3:22 pm
fran:
i believe only a few people could do that. you have a very flexible brain. 🙂
72.
arizaphale | September 22, 2015 at 3:33 am
Clockwise first but close my eyes and it goes the other way. It took a little more time for it to go back to clockwise though. It does reflect that I am both analytical and chaotic *cough I mean creative, in equal measures…..
73.
plaridel | September 22, 2015 at 12:09 pm
arizaphale:
it could only mean you’re one of the gifted few. 🙂
74.
Dreamer of Dreams | December 16, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Hmm … I first saw it as anti-clockwise, then looked away, then looked again, and saw it as clockwise!
75.
plaridel | December 17, 2015 at 9:03 am
vijaya:
it looks like you have a very flexible brain. one of the few among humans. 🙂
76.
Dreamer of Dreams | December 17, 2015 at 10:24 am
🙂
77.
Woolly Muses | April 15, 2016 at 5:39 pm
Definitely anti-clockwise. Always has been….but guess which hand I write with
78.
plaridel | April 16, 2016 at 9:20 pm
woolly muses:
with practice, you make make it move either way. 🙂
79. right brain vs. left brain – todaysrecipeblog | August 3, 2016 at 1:42 am
[…] Source: right brain vs. left brain […]
80.
stillwatersrundark | November 8, 2016 at 11:03 am
I see it going both ways. i am left and right brain, weird i know…
81.
plaridel | November 9, 2016 at 3:07 pm
stillwatersrundark:
it only means you’re special.
82.
granonine | November 28, 2016 at 9:20 am
I can make the dancer go whichever way I choose. Does that mean I am neither right nor left brained? Brainless? Oh dear.
83.
plaridel | November 28, 2016 at 2:47 pm
linda:
it only means you’re special. 🙂
84.
Just Me | December 15, 2016 at 11:08 pm
I’m like granonine. At first, it turns counterclockwise. As soon as I started reading your words on this post, she turned clockwise!
Then, when I looked away and was trying to figure out what I was looking at on my desktop computer screen, she turned counterclockwise again, and so on!
85.
plaridel | December 17, 2016 at 2:02 pm
just me:
it only means your special. 🙂
86.
Kecia Sparlin | March 22, 2017 at 4:12 pm
I see it going clockwise. I tried counting to ten to make it switch, but it didn’t work.
87.
plaridel | March 22, 2017 at 4:53 pm
kecia:
perhaps it would help if you concentrate on her feet. 🙂
88.
prior.. | July 7, 2018 at 12:12 pm
well I am with you on the right – but last year I had some students get a little sidetracked on how the right bran and left brain theory is flawed – but they took it way too serious – and they wanted to note that is layered and more top bottom too – and while the corpus collosum does connect two sides – whew – I have some students all in a tizzy about not saying left vs right
89.
plaridel | July 7, 2018 at 1:52 pm
prior:
at this point, i posted it just for entertainment only. 🙂
90.
prior.. | July 8, 2018 at 8:11 pm
🙂