Who controls your mind?

[rainonlevs]

So this australian paper posted an animated figure that is supposed to tell you whether you are Right-brained or Left-brained. Very fun. I won't tell you which is which, go take a look at it first, then let me know what you think in the comments.

(h/t to page5grrl for this link. :^)

Comments

Fun!!!

[rainonlevs]

I saw this first as clockwise, then as counter-clockwise when it paused, before I read the text.

I found that I could reverse it, and got that little head-rush and clarity that I get when I do those magic eye patterns.

I'm not sure how valid that right/left brain thing is, but I do think its an interesting way to see if you are in charge of your brain, or if its in charge of you... ;^)

[madali]

I saw this a while back, but I dont believe the right/left-brain part. Thats just bullshit science journalism.

[rainonlevs]

That's what I was figuring, particularly because they didn't cite any theory that would explain why one direction meant a particular brain-side activity.

It's still a fun mental excercise though! :^)

[rainonlevs]

Perhaps each cortex specializes in one direction of motion. If the left eye (right brain) interprets rightward motion faster through specialization, then that might cut down a few microseconds of reaction time when something is approaching quickly from your left. And vice-versa. That could be a survival advantage.

Of course, if that was the case, I would also expect that rotation would be determined by the movement of the object's front, so that the right brain would most quickly interpret motion to be front to the left, which would be counter-clockwise. {sigh} :^)

[eyesky]

I don't understand - it rotates in both directions doesn't it?!

I couldn't reverse it, anyway...

[rainonlevs]

Wow - If you see it rotate in both directions at the same time you truly are Maya and above the illusion of this world. . . :^D

Technically, it doesn't rotate in either direction, it is just a series of images that our mind observes, classifies as a ballet dancer, and then tries to interpret the changes in the image in that context. Try this. Whichever direction you see the dancer rotating in, close your eyes and then visualize the dancer making a complete rotation in the other direction. Include the up and down motion and focus on how her leg arcs around in front of her (to the left for clockwise, to the right for ccw). When you see her spinning in the direction you want in your mind, open your eyes.

Let me know if this works, I am always interested in how the things I do in my head work in other peoples'. :^)