Dr. Mercola November 03 2007 304,107 views
Your brain -- that three-pound mass of gray and white matter between your ears -- is the most complex object in the known universe. It contains as many neurons as there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy, and we know as much (or as little) about how they function as we know about all those stars.
This nifty little test can perhaps shed a ray of light on how your brain operates – that is, whether your right brain, or left brain, is in charge. Or, perhaps you’re able to switch over at will.
Click on the link to the Herald Sun, which will take you to an image of a dancer. Do you see her turning clockwise or anti-clockwise? If she’s moving clockwise you use more of your right brain, and vice versa.
Left Brain Functions
Right Brain Functions
Scientists still don’t know exactly how your brain works, how information is coded in neural activity, or how memories are stored and retrieved, for example. Many still believe we only use a mere 10 percent of our brain, but that is probably nothing more than a myth, and should never be used as an excuse for not reaching goals and seizing opportunities that come your way.
Is it possible to unlock dormant areas of your brain? Perhaps it would be better to ask how you can find ways to improve upon, and flex your existing brain capabilities. Challenging your mind with new ideas, such as learning a foreign language, doing crossword puzzles, or brainteasers such as this one, can help keep your brain strong. With some practice, you can figure out how to “make” this twirling figure switch directions, indicating you’ve switched from using one brain lobe to the other.
Most importantly though, maintaining nutritious eating habits and regular exercise are your two best allies when it comes to keeping your brain healthy and working optimally – regardless of whether you’re a right brainer, or a left brainer.
Sources:
Herald Sun October 9, 2007
I 'saw' both directions at the same time with changes inside split seconds , made me nauseated .And if you look at her upside down while chewing gum she finally gets dressed and leaves for work.
Oh, my gosh, you made me laugh so hard! At first it was going counter-clockwise and I couldn't get it to go the other way. Finally, I tried the peripheral vision thing and now I can't get her to go counter-clockwise again! I guess I'm both-minded. I also felt a shift in my mind when she changed directions. Maybe I should refer to this story often when I'm feeling too logical or need to cry and can't.
LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!! what a corker reply......and so say all of us. What a waste of valuable time
Your hint to cover everything below her head with your hand, worked well. A neurologist we work with kept telling us it was a trick and that she merely switched directions. Although we could all get her to change direction, with 4 of us watching, we could not ever agree on the particular direction or at a particular time. It really seems to be brain perception. I also tried covering up everything except her foot and still it would change directions.
Hi,
I found if I squinted at the picture looking straight at it, and willed myself to see it change directions I can do it every time. Bit weird?? I don't know but it works. I wonder how much effect being left or right handed has on this kind of thing. I'm left, but as with most left handed people, I use my right hand a lot just to get by in a right handed world.
I had to get my wife in on this one.After the slap and some explaining on what it was about we watched together.It is all in your brain on which way the dancer is moving.I would see it going one way and then change and my wife said no it didn't change.And then she would say okay it just changed and it didn't for me.We quess if you see it going only one way all the time you must have half a brain.Neither one of us could see ourselves or the other being in either one of the brain functions listed. We must be using our whole brain.That is a good thing to know.
I tried and tried in every way to see it go counter clockwise but gor me it ONLY goes clockwise, and the dancer is only always on her left leg and swinging her right. Maybe I'm 100% right brained and those whos see both are mixed. !!!
Every time i've looked at this, i only see her going clockwise. Tried peripheral vision, & it didn't work, until i looked far away. At the extreme limit of my peripheral vision i can see it counter clockwise, but as soon as i look at it directly, whether i try to get there slowly or fast, it reverts to clockwise.
Katee Roux
Same here, Euro! What's fun is that I remember distinctly that when I was younger all tests of this kind indicated I was left brained. I know I have changed over the years, but never would have guessed...
It's a fun test. I'll practice seeing her moving counterclockwise, gotta be able to :)