Know Thyself?
I stumbled across this test on YouTube (okay, I was sposed to be putting the final touches on my web site redesign … I was taking a little break!) You can take this left-brain/right-brain test by watching the video at right.
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Done? Okay. Here are the “results.”
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WHAT IT MEANS
If [you see the dancer turning] clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and [if you see the dancer turning counter-clockwise, then you use more of the left side of the brain].
Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise [counter-clockwise] though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.
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
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Okay, so I don’t know if this test tells if I’m right- and/or left-brained or just highlights my suspicious nature, because I see this dancer moving in BOTH directions and a (pretty big) part of me still thinks it’s a trick. (C’mon, if there isn’t something in the image that determines the spinning direction, how can they “change” the direction in the video? You know, when they tell us “now the image is moving clockwise”, “now it’s moving counter-clockwise?” Like I said, suspicious.)
Putting my misgivings aside, I guess the important parts are that …
- I see the dancer move clockwise first and
- I can change the direction in which she spins. (Don’t know what that means?)
Fascinating!
Why? Because if you’d shown me the two lists above and asked me which list best applied to me, I’d have chosen the left brain functions hands down. (And I don’t think I’m deluding myself — I suspect people who know me well would say the same.) But according to this, I am more right-brained. Who’d’ve thunk?
(Is improvising changing my brain?! How cool would that be!)
How can anyone see it moving counter-clockwise? I never was able to see anything other than clock-wise. You’re correct, I would have thought you were left-brain. Very interesting.
Dana
16 Feb 2009 at 9:04 am
Hi Dana,
I know … I’m still mighty mighty suspicious about this whole “test!” (I talked to a friend who also had what she considered the “wrong” results. Hmmm.)
As to getting the dancer to change directions? Try this. (I hvae no idea whether or not it will work for you (c;)
The way I made her switch directions was to watch out of the corner of my eye — focusing on her planted foot and the twirling leg. Eventually (for me), I could see her spin the other way. But it took some practice (concentration?) to keep her spinning in the direction I wanted. The longer I spent with it, the easier it got though.
(Thanks for reading, fellow right-brainer.)
singingly,
sg
16 Feb 2009 at 12:30 pm
Well I never see her going any way except counter-clockwise. Didn’t matter that the video told me she was going clockwise, all I ever saw was counterclockwise. How can anyone see her going clockwise and how on earth can anyone make her change direction?
19 Feb 2009 at 5:46 pm
And if you do get her to change direction … what does it mean?!?
My friend M and I are convinced that they’ve reversed the answers. She took the test and got what she considered the “wrong” result, too. Tis a puzzlement.
(Thanks for reading, Ellen (c;)
singingly,
sg
20 Feb 2009 at 4:32 pm
In order to dispel doubts about this animation, which was originally designed by Noboyuki Kayahara, and to correct what I saw as some minor flaws in his version, I have set-up and rendered a similar animation using a Poser 4 model and 3D Studio Max for output.
Please visit my website:
http://www.splinx.com
and click on Braindance.
Using the Poser model in Max, I created two versions of my animation, one spinning clockwise, the other spinning counterclockwise. By clicking on the green arrow, you can switch between the two animations and thereby physically change the native rotation of the animation.
In addition, when the yellow arrow appears (on the left), you may click it to have a man join the spinning woman and hear some of my original music composed and recorded solely with Cakewalk.
Now, it is possible – at least for some of us – to change the apparent rotation of the spinning animation by using the power of the mind. Click the red button to read more about it.
Enjoy!
22 Feb 2009 at 3:46 pm
[…] ago about How to Conduct Your Own Annual Review. I admit my analytical, business-y side (is that my left or right brain?) was intrigued, evenly mildly excited, by the idea. After all if you don’t plan your work […]
23 Feb 2009 at 11:00 pm
I don’t get it. The dancer is pointing her leg, which is obviously going clockwise. When they reverse it–it’s like they reversed the picture (notice you can see her butt-crack differently–I know it’s rude, sorry). But she’s always pointing her leg. If you think of her leg like the hand of clock, there is no way to “interpret” it. It is either going clockwise or its not. I don’t think of myself as right-brained, but I can see. Weird.
08 May 2009 at 7:52 am
Hey Nate,
Well, we all spent a lot of time looking at this after you guys departed last night (I logged on and saw your comment).
It looks like the video creators added the white lines to help you “see” the image rotate in the direction they stated. (B pointed out the lines to me. I didn’t notice them — what does that tell you about my brain? *smile*)
Those white highlights are not in the original image (watch the first section of the video again). Can you make her spin either direction without the help of the guidelines?
Nice to know you’re reading (and good to see you this weekend!)
P.S. B and I are both left-brained. W and P saw it counter-clockwise first (I think). Make H look at it and report back. (kidding, kind of)
10 May 2009 at 6:52 pm
[…] quitting swim team didn’t mean I had to quit swimming. It didn’t mean I didn’t “know myself.” It didn’t mean that I was a failure. (It simply meant I didn’t have to bike to the pool […]
10 May 2009 at 8:14 pm