Are you Right or Left Brain dominant? A Test

Quick, which direction is she twirling?



If you say clockwise, you may be Right- brain dominant. Counter- clockwise means Left- brain preference.

I'm not sure this is exactly super scientific but one thing is fascinating. I saw clockwise first. (No surprise for those who know me.) But, then my eye scanned elsewhere on the page, and when I returned my eyes directly to her she'd flipped directions - I was perceiving counter-clockwise.

I was actually kinda freaked. I looked at her some more trying to "see" clockwise turning. Nothing, still anti-clockwise.

Then I started reading the list of attributes below and halfway down one stack of words there was perceptible shift in the corner of my eye. Damn! She'd reverted back to clockwise as I was assimilating the bullet points. Below is the list of attributes. Try it and see how it works for you.

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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In a way, she really is a like a tachometer for our brains. As I was perceiving her in right-brain mode (home to instantaneous image perception and other sensory gestalt), perhaps my left hemisphere, home to theories and chunks of knowledge (words, words, words!) began to kick in to attempt an answer to "what's going on here?" That flip of focus seems to carry with it a different set of "eyes." What's it mean? I'll save what I think for the book (OK, for a taste click on Brain, Metaphor Archetype, Brand at right). But here's something: Beware Power Pointers and Bullet Listers: Halfway through the list of bullets is where I, at least, flipped onto Right-Brain again without consciously deciding to do so.

Maybe my sensation-seeking brain took over and wanted not lists or packeted discipline, but instead, all-at-once imagery--"big picture" or, perhaps, just the stimulation and simplicity of plain old pictures, moving or not. In other words, in order to keep my attention on that list of points, after about 3 seconds the words would have needed to start doing something with each other or doing something to the cones and rods collecting light in my eyeballs. Your mileage may vary. Whadaya think?

Link

UPDATE: I've gone ahead and broken the GIF down into frames (34) here. Nope, it's not a cheap reverse-direction thing. Click the link for some thoughts on how our brains' might infer different directions for her.

and we see some possible reason

UPDATED UPDATE: We've had many many many hits since hitting send on this "throwaway post" so I thought I should correct some--but by no means all of--the sloppy inferences and grammar in the above text.

In addition, one thing I overlooked (ha!) is that there seem to be parallels to the practical experience of presenters and Powerpoint™ cowboys: Don't say what you are showing on screen; mix your images to stimulate attention in your audience. People bore when both hemispheres are experiencing comparable concepts ("Seen it, done it, got the free t-shirt.") So. don't "say [read] what they're seeing" but, instead, find imagery that challenges your audiences' assumptions. Why "challenge" them? Important point. Assumption, or bias, a harsher word than Assumption, is latent in everyone. And, people's bias is your persuasion target, not the people themselves. If you attempt to persuade, you will lose. But, if you engage their mental library of metaphors and images in service of your (seemingly) counter-argument, then you will have them working to make your "adjustment" cohere with their already established belief. Think about it.