Friday, October 05, 2007

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
=====

In a way, she really is a like a tachometer for our brains. As I was perceiving her in right-brain mode, my left side, 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 on Right-Brain without consciously deciding to. My brain took over and wanted not lists or packeted discipline, but instead, all-at-once imagery. 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 to my cones and rods. 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

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