Which way is the dancer spinning… clockwise or counter-clockwise?
Most people will see her turning counter-clockwise, which apparently means you’re more left brained (logical). I see her spinning that way, and it’s at first almost impossible to imagine her going clockwise. But it happens, usually by focusing or when something unexpectedly alters your perception.
Here’s the typical run down on left versus right brain:
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
Many people associate the right brain with creativity and lateral thinking, and there’s certainly something to that. Our left brains create structures that can act as barriers to alternative solutions and perspectives.
But your left brain plays a crucial role in creativity as well. Seeing logical associations between seemingly unrelated things is a hallmark of creativity. And the critical-thinking skills necessary to tell a good idea from a bad one are pretty important too.
So… tell us which way your dancer spins for you in the comments. And weigh in with your opinion about the right brain versus left brain for creativity… isn’t it a really a “whole mind” thing?
P.S. Want to know how this optical illusion works? Read this.
About the Author: Brian Clark is a new media entrepreneur and co-founder of Lateral Action. Subscribe today to get free updates by email or RSS.
Tweet
Clockwise as seen from above is counterclockwise as seen from underneath, and vice-versa… The distinction should be made before assuming that you’re seeing her spin clockwise or counterclockwise.
I usually see her spin counterclockwise ass seen from above, but I can make her change directions if I force myself to think she’s spinning the other way, especially if I squint or close my eyes for a second.
We are seeing her from front on though. Optical illusions are something that we can all make change once we see it, the question is about which do you perceive first. This identifies your preference.
The distinction between clockwise and counterclockwise should then be made. Otherwise, how can anyone specify in which direction she is seen spinning?… If I say that I see her spinning clockwise from an overhead reference, it could be said that I see her spin counterclockwise from underneath.
As Wikipedia states, clockwise or counterclockwise would be considered as a SEEN FROM ABOVE perspective
this is an optical illusion which tests your perception, which is what your brain tells you that you are seeing. therefore in this test, your brain (if you have one) tells you that you are seeing the woman turn clockwise or counter-clockwise. If the test told you to look from above there would be no illusion. Wikipedia or not.
all I can see is her spinning clockwise. I tried to see her spinning counterclock wise but I could not.
I am a right brain thinker, living in a world of left brain. I am wondering,if we using too much right Brain to solve or interact the society, am I going to be an out cast?
i see her spinning clockwise until I came down here and learnt that staring for two mins can change the direction. But, I am logic minded, not overpowered by emotions and most importantly, I suck at arts (visual mostly)…..
I see her spinning clockwise, and that makes me right-brained according to the test. But I have lots of left-brain tendencies too. I think it is a whole-brain thing, but we are definitely on a continuum.
what the— at first it was completely counter-clockwise..then I read your article and glanced up back to the spinning woman,..and it completely reversed~..it was freaky..and creepy.. and did the same, and it turned counter clockwise again..What does this mean?? just so quick..
if you all stare at it for 2 minutes without moving your eyes, you will know that it changes by itself. It doesn’t change just cause you moved your eyes or anything. This has nothing to do with which way you see it spinning cause it spins both ways. This does not prove which side of the brain you use more. All this proves is how terrible our attention spans are that we can’t even stare and focus on something for up to 2 minutes.
that is the definition of perception
Ozzy, if you stare at the picture for up to 2 minutes and watch it change then it’s logic. Not perception. If however, you don’t see a change until you move your head or blink or anything at all, then I’ll agree with you that it’s perception.
For a few seconds it was counter clockwise and then she appeared to change direction before my eyes and carried on clockwise for the rest of the time. I am very right brained, left handed (I believe these go together) but don’t know how conclusive this test is. By the way, I found as a woman my creativity dropped enormously at the end of the menopause – I felt a different person due to this – so now concentrate on teaching. Has there ever been a study about oestrogen affecting creativity? Its alarming when it happens, which I despaired over at the time.
man, when i see that it is totally spinning clockwise!!!!! like i dont get how people dont see that lol BUT if i focus long enough i CAN see if spinning counter. but if i close my eyes and open them again she is totally spinning clockwise. her foot, her arm is turning clockwise!!!
At first she spun clockwise then after reading she started spinning counter clockwise. So I left the site, then came back and again she was spinning clockwise. With out reading I stared at her a little longer then she changed again. So then I continued reading periodically looking at her, and she continued to shift back and forth from clockwise to counter clockwise. Then I followed the link on how it worked. Both pictures continually shifted. Some times both went clockwise some times both went counter clockwise, some times they rotated opposite each other. I’ve taken two other brain domainence tests and this continues to confirm “middle brain”.
Wow! That is so cool! I thought “of course, she’s spinning clockwise…how could anyone see it any other way”. I tried to see it counter-clockwise but could not. I see why! lol. I’m definitely a right-brained, thinking girl!
WOW ! I looked at the dancer and then I read the question. Hmmmm I was seeing her spin counter-clockwise, but I was sure before I started to read I saw her spin clockwise as well ! So I experimented, by focusing on one side of my brain and looking at the dancer and then looking away and then back and I could actually see her spin either way, by doing this !!! Incredible
Try it. I would love to know if it worked for others. Concentrate with the left side of your brain and look at the dancer, look away and then back and she will spin clockwise. Now, concentrate with the right side of your brain and look at the dancer, look away and then back and she will spin counter clockwise.
Loads of people think that right brained people are ‘dumb’ which is not true. I am actually an intelligent person, but I’m also creative and spontaneous. I use my logic when I need to and I use my creativity when I need to. I wouldn’t use my logic in an Art class but when I have a Mathematics class I use my logic. I like to think I use both sides of my brain.
I often have thought as an artist I am very logical too and both sides of my brain are working together. I actually had a College Art Teacher announce to the class that….”You probably are in this class because you aren’t very good at anything else, for instance math”. How demeaning is that? I have read articles that say having an artist’s ability is being looked at as a form of intelligence.
For me the dancer will turn anytime I look slightly away. In fact, I can make it turn 1/2 rotation one way then the other. Also, I was leaning towards left hand and my parents made me use my right hand. I use both hands equally, except for writing only with the (R) hand. My husband can only see the figure turn clockwise. At first I didn’t think the figure would rotate the other way and it surprised me when it did!
Once I took a aptitude test and I scored off the charts in spatial reasoning (right side brain) which at the time I had to look up the difinition of spatial reasoning. The test giver said in 20 years he had never seen such a high score, (I would have made a great aviation controller) not only did I complete the timed test (which was designed to leave about 1/2 unfinished) but got almost 100% accuracy. I didn’t care for math when I was in HS, but later in college I scored top of the class in Statistical Math, (left side brained) with the instructor saying he would give me a score higher than 4.0 if he could.
Both sides of the brain are needed to see the full picture. If one side of the brain can understand the words in a sentence, the other side figures out the intent, the emotion, the sometimes hidden meaning the “tone”. Some of the most brilliant scientist and inventors called on intutive reasoning. With out our right side brain we would be robot like, sterile, and just pretty darn boring!
This isnt a good test for anything.. the silhouette spins one way for 5 seconds then switches the other way for 5 seconds, so everyone thinks its their “brain”doing it..its a scam, your brain isnt doing anything. Its the stupid website being deceitful. Lame
I saw her spinning clockwise…. She goes to the left which is clockwise.
I saw her spinning both ways though…
Agh – She jumps back and forth……
I can only see her clockwise. I’m a doc and do great with patients but people at work I don’t understand and I may loose my career I want help now!! Is there any?
hey friends the girl is rotating clockwise always and if i concentrate too hard she stops for moments i dont know why ??