Right brain v. Left brain test - spinning dancer

[scorcher863]

The dancer is designed to be directionally ambiguous. Since most objects in motion dont move this way (both clockwise and counterclockwise at the same time) in our environment, our brains group the pattern as something more familiar (continuity property?). ie. clockwise OR counter clockwise -
FWIW, i think the point of ambiguity occurs at the point when the outstretched leg is farthest to the right or to the left. (by the time the leg is somewhere in the middle, your brain has already perceived the pattern as clockwise or counter clockwise)

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Probably, I would have expected that the effect would be random. AFAICT what you see depends on where your visual system places the light source.

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I agree and disagree. the first time viewing the dancer, her direction well be random. After understanding how the dancer works, i can now control which way i want to see her spin. (by starting at the point when the stretched out foot is farthest to the right or left and imagining the dancer spinning in either direction)

[Metric]

Thanks, yukon.

[djk123]

i've tried everyone's tricks and tops but still can't see counter clockwise [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[CrushinFelt]

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Damn it, I can't make her go clockwise.

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[CrushinFelt]

lol I spoke way too fast

I CANT [censored] CONTROL [censored].

I look away and back and its clockwise... I do it again and its varies...w t f

[CrushinFelt]

ok

majority of the time it's counter clockwise

[CrushinFelt]

oooohhhhh k... if I stare at the shadow and say to myself "back or front" (as in, is the spinning leg going in front or behind the other leg), I can control it... I am Neo.

[scorcher863]

crushin- the key to seeing both directions is the stretched out leg. the way the dancer is drawn, the stretched out leg can either be the dancers right leg or the dancers left leg.
If you picture the stretched leg to be her right leg, then the dancer will be spinning clockwise; left,counter clockwise.

The point when you should be deciding if the stretched out leg is her right or left leg is when the stretched leg is closest to the right or left edge of the box.

(i think it is actually two patterns, one the reverse of the other-i can make her switch directions every 180 degrees thta i percieve her to turn.)

[BTirish]

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oooohhhhh k... if I stare at the shadow and say to myself "back or front" (as in, is the spinning leg going in front or behind the other leg), I can control it... I am Neo.

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Between your avatar and your glee over this accomplishment, I couldn't help but hear Also Sprach Zarathustra (opening theme of 2001) playing in my head.

[scorcher863]

damnn, too late for me to be morpheus. lol