Clockwise or counterclockwise?
Written by Haitham Sabbah on 14. October 2007, 0027hrs // Part of Haitham Sabbah's adventure in Science and Technology, Too Much Free Time // Other posts by Haitham Sabbah
OK, it’s Eid holiday, so this is not politics-related, but it is a cool way to find out if you are a right-brain or left-brain dominant. Look at the dancer and decide which way she’s spinning.
Focus!
If you think she’s going clockwise, you’re apparently right-brain dominant (imaginative, philosophical, touchy-feely, impetuous); if you see her going counter-clockwise, you’re left-brain dominant (logical, practical, detail-oriented, safe).
The publisher claimed that “most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it,” but I see it only clockwise!
What about you?
[Source: Australia Herald Sun]
Do you like - Clockwise or counterclockwise? - 
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October 14th, 2007 at 1:22 am
I see her spinning CW, but if I focus more or if I stop looking and then look again, I can see her spinning CCW… So, I can see both directions! what is the explanation for that? am I left and right brain dominant? or may be I have no brain at all
Eid Mubarak Haitham.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:23 am
yeah i saw that one about a week ago. This is a hoax. The figure change it’s spinning direction.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:57 am
Clockwise.
I wish there was colour.
That would have changed my corrupt mind.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:11 am
Counter clockwise.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:53 am
Am I screwed up?
She could spin anyway she wanted.
Still clockwise.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:54 am
BTW, I am left handed.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Only clockwise, couldn’t see counterclockwise!
October 14th, 2007 at 7:54 am
All I can see is a naked women spinning, nice figure by the way.
October 14th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Eid Mubarak, Sami.
I see that some had fun tonight
Name,
She is not naked, she is wearing ‘Body Stretch’ :-p
October 14th, 2007 at 11:30 am
For me, it changes. Sometimes when I first look at it, it is going clockwise, other times counter-clockwise. If I look at it for a while, it changes direction. Probably yazan is right.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
all I can see is clockwise. i sat and stared at it for a while, and clockwise is the only way she went.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
[...] [source via sabbah] [...]
October 14th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
and I now I just came back to your page, and she’s going counter clockwise!!!!!
::confused::
October 14th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Watch it VERY closely long enough, in the split second where her legs overshadow each other, the figure periodically will change feet-it looks like it’s a trick of your eye, but she IS actually changing she is standing on as you can see when her back is facing you. Yazan IS right. If you lead with your right foot to the right-you are going clockwise, if you lead with your left foot to the left, you are going COUNTER clockwise. (think of the hands of a clock)At least that’s what I came up with.
October 14th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Sorry, she is changing the foot she is standing on as she twirls
October 14th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Hey Haitham …
Happy Eid to you …
This is a nice way to deceive the brain
She is actually spinning in both directions but switching between both .. hence; the focus trick
But that’s how I see it .. or saw it …
Any way … nice one
October 14th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Hehehe… some people are scratching their head badly
October 14th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Khalidah,
Nice to see you here and glad that many people liked it for a change
Happy Eid to you and your family too.
October 15th, 2007 at 1:58 am
I watched for many minutes (I have no better things to do), she spins clockwise!
I refreshed the page. She still spins clockwise.
I work with motors an rotation is important to me.
She spins clockwise!
October 15th, 2007 at 2:35 am
i had both my partner and my kids look at it and all of us saw her rotating in different directions!!!!
I don’t think the kids really know what they’re talking about, but W* definitly saw her going in a different direction than i did…
::still confused::
October 15th, 2007 at 3:34 am
Still clockwise.
October 15th, 2007 at 3:37 am
My wife just watched “the lovely girl” and she said clockwise.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Clockwise or Counterclockwise ?…
From Sabbah’s Blog:
OK, it’s Eid holiday, so this is not politics-related, but it is a cool way to find out if you are a right-brain or left-brain dominant. Look at the dancer and decide which way she’s spinning.
Focus!
If you think she’s …
October 15th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I discovered that you can make the rotation change, at least for me, by putting your hand to cover her up above the waist and just look at the legs.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:25 am
bernarda,
I will not cover any part of her body!
It is still clockwise.
My 6′ wife agrees with me.
If she agrees, SHE IS RIGHT!
I am only 5′ 10″ and I am lying.
What she says is right!
October 16th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
kimmy, another method to get it to change rotation is to look at it closely and then blink your eyes three or four times quickly.
October 17th, 2007 at 2:53 am
She is spinning both ways, at different times of course.
October 17th, 2007 at 4:31 am
Still clockwise!
October 18th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Looks it was confusing for some… a friend from http://www.progressiveindependent.com shared the following, which might solve the mystery:
Sounds logical to me
October 18th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Haitham,
Watch her for a LONG time-I know-patience is a virtue LOL-but look at her as her back faces you in that moment, notice which foot she is standing on as she is “spinning” the way you see her. If it’s her left foot, clench your left hand (I know it sounds silly, but try it) KEEP watching. NOW, eventually she’s going to appear to spin in the other direction, NOW, look at her BACK again as she spins. Which foot is she standing on as she “spins” now (look at her back to determine) Do you see it? She DID change feet in the fleeting moment when you can’t see it because the silohette overlaps. NOW, LOL, I know this sounds silly, but stand on your right foot and LEAD to the left with your left foot up in the air. Now try it the other way, stand on your LEFT foot and lead to the right and spin. See? You’re going in a different direction-and as “I” see it, that’s the trick of this “spinning” image.
(Now I’m DIZZY spinning in my kitchen and I might be ALL washed up!)
October 18th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
OK, I think the above quote from Progressive Independent stating the figure is “shifting back and forth” is referring exactly to her change in feet-and the “illusion” of her changing “spinning” positions is precisely because she DOES change feet. Hope that makes sense.
October 18th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Yazan, i agree with you and will elaborate further. Any with any knowledge of computer programming will know it’s impossible to create a program that “spins” in different directions according to how much one concentrates. It’s just not possible.
October 21st, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Here is a similar optical illusion but its a spinning mask (Not a cartoon)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJIQTf5UpRU
May 21st, 2008 at 5:59 am
Hello!
Both cw and ccw, or swing left to right!