But I was only able to see her spinning counter-clockwise after seeing the lined dancer. Some observers initially see the figure as spinning clockwise (viewed from above) and some counterclockwise. Then you can time your blinks to change the rotation. ... OMG! Simultaneous Contrast Illusion. And sometimes they will perceive I did eventually get it, but as soon as I came back to the unlined drawing, I saw her on her left foot spinning like At first, it was obviously circling to the right and she is standing on her right leg. For me there is no question: the answer is clockwise. The Truth About the Spinning Dancer By Tara Parker-Pope, New York Times Blog April 28, 2008 A popular e-mail going around features a spinning dancer that has been touted as a test of whether you are right-brained and creative or left-brained and logical. Does she spin clockwise or counterclockwise? Clockwise and counterclockwise, at will. The earliest I can reverse but then again each of my eyes is totally different in strength and astigmatism, so that might be the reason. As an Amazon Associate, Freakonomics may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through links on this site. Here's why hurricanes spin counterclockwise in the North Published Fri, Oct 7 2016 1:01 PM EDT Updated Fri, Oct 7 2016 3:14 PM EDT Robert Ferris @in/robert-ferris-a482061/ @RobertoFerris Reversing your fan, to a clockwise direction, creates a … her as standing on her right leg and spinning to the left. Yul Kwon currently works at Google, but he’s been a lawyer, political... For all the progress made in fighting cancer, it still kills 10 million people a year, and some types remain especially hard to detect and treat. I find that if I concentrate on the supporting foot and “see” it turning either right or left, I can control which way the dancer spins. If you see the dancer spinning clockwise, the story goes, you are using more of your right brain, and if you see it moving counterclockwise, you are more of a left-brained person. Dr. Toppino advises staring at one part of the image, such as the foot, and most of the time it will eventually flip. Courtesy of Marginal Revolution, take a look at this dancer. I want my right brained-ness back! I mentioned this to my family and they all thought I was crazy. Major: Graphic Design In fact, I can “make” her stand still, facing One is simply an optical illusion often referred to as the wagon-wheel effect, and the other is the fact that film moves at 24 or 30 frames a second — slower than our eyes process motion, creating the sense that the wheels are moving backward rather than forward. too bad,i This can happen in two ways: Afterwards, I tried to reverse it with every half cycle so as to try to see her just doing a 180 and back, but I couldn’t. What fun. on her left leg, revolving to the left. One the right you see the silhouette of a spinning figurine. Get Well's Running email for practical tips, expert advice, exclusive content and a bit of motivation delivered to your inbox every week to help you on your running journey. major: biology Double major (economics and business), investment banker. Do you see the dancer turning clockwise or counter-clockwise (see details)? If the object only makes sense in one "handedness" the other interpretation will seem wrong. How did they figure out that some people would see her spin one way and others would see the opposite? But it happens, usually by focusing or when something unexpectedly alters your perception. Phys Ed: The Benefits of Exercising Before Breakfast, Dog Needs a Walk? Occupation: Undergrad Student Biology major and Mastres in Public Health, currently homemaker, but in the past I have been an epidemiologist and science teacher. The picture also lacks depth cues, so sometimes the face of the cube appears on the lower left, but sometimes This type of thing happens to me when I watch car commercials. I think shadow problems that a couple of people pointed out come from just this - in some frames one of the two interpretations gives slightly wrong, or at least less natural, shadow pattern. Viewers are told that if they view the dancer as standing on her left leg and spinning clockwise, then they are … Ahhh! Masters in Decision Sciences (Operational Research), Job: Consulting (I'm a former US Navy submarine officer, too). Looking at the Swedish angel chimes above the four burning Clockwise FROM TPP — Normal. (NSQ Ep. ... it's easier to visualize the dancer spinning in the other direction. 13). The illusion, created in 2003 by web designer Nobuyuki Kayahara, involves the apparent direction of motion of the figure. Oh, oh, now she waved at me. The dancer's outstretched leg can be interpreted as either - right leg, therefore behind when she's facing left, for counterclockwise rotation; or left leg, therefore in front of her when she's facing left, for clockwise rotation. That dancer is definitely, unequivocally, turning clockwise. So what are you if you see the dancer going clockwise sometimes, and counter-clockwise at other times? FROM TPP — Yes I saw that but the expert source was “my fiance an optical illusion geek” so I felt like I should research it a bit more. If the I see her spinning that way, and it’s at first almost impossible to imagine her going clockwise. was hoping it meant i had a super left and right brains. At first it appeared clockwise – not surprising, I’m a lefty. It's not quite true that ANYTHING will do. Other start times give other phase shifts. This pulls cool air up toward the ceiling, which in turn displaces the warm air that rises and collects near the ceiling. 50 years ago, I nearly wore out a book about optical illusions in my junior high school’s library. Counter-clockwise: Click image to start animation or view it in the gallery. FROM TPP — It’s just a drawing you know. For years, the spinning dancer optical illusion has been making the rounds — usually with some text suggesting that if you see the girl spinning clockwise, you’re right-brained (more creative), and if you see it moving counter-clockwise, you’re left-brained (more logical). Finally, the image switched, and now I can Instead, Your health questions answered by Times journalists and experts. For the 'both' option, choose this only if you can see both when looking directly on the picture, not when using tricks like looking that a place beside the picture and catching it spinning at the opposite direction at the corner of your eyes or looking look back and forth between the picture and the your … Coming soon. Two BONUSES included: 1) Spinning cat 2) Spinning Trixie! Engineering, Economics A clockwise ceiling fan direction … if you see her spinning clockwise, it means that your left half of the brain, the "logic/analytic" one, is generally (or currently) more active. First look at the shadow. Here’s the typical run down on left versus right brain: I see the dancer spinning clockwise although I was able to reverse it momentarily. Here is an NPR piece about why car tires appear to be rotating in the wrong direction. Perhaps the most-studied reversible image is the Necker cube, which looks like the wire-frame of a cube. “If the foot touching the ground is perceived to be the left foot, the dancer appears to be spinning clockwise (if seen from above); if it is taken to be the right foot, then she appears to be spinning counterclockwise.” A nice graphic that illustrates how the dancer can be observed as spinning in either direction is below. Hopefully, you kept reading the story, which makes the point that this is not a brain test. Which way is this dancer spinning? I saw the dancer spin both ways, but I can’t If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa. Also, it seems to really strain my head trying to reverse repeatedly. My husband is an Engineer and an MBA, he can see both as well, but he needs to focus on her head to get her to change directions. Did you know this figurine is used to determine whether or not people are right-brain (creative) or left-brain (logical) dominant? Neat illusion–I can pretend I have telekinetic powers! If she doesn’t keep switching directions on me, I’m going to get seasick (which, I am sure, is a completely different neurological study). If the viewer’s perception is that the foot touching the floor is the left foot, then the dancer appears to be spinning in a clockwise direction. A lot has to do with the position of the outward leg when you begin watching the illusion. Good job, Steve. Images like this one have been long studied by scientists to learn more about how vision works. You will see that some will see it spinning clockwise,while at the same time others will see it going counter clockwise,and when it … One thing I have not seen definitively stated one way or another is whether or not the shadow is also ambiguous as to the direction of her spin. Dr. Toppino says in people who can’t see the reversal, it may be that one underlying neural structure is more dominant, but once someone finally manages to see the flip, it will start And if you haven’t wasted enough time staring at the Necker cube and spinning dancer, check out these fun optical illusions. I believe that the shadow definitively determines If I close my eyes and imagine the dancer going the direction I want to see her, then that’s how I see the dancer going. Note when you see the shadow of her extended leg. During the summer, use your ceiling fan in the counterclockwise direction. As Boys Get Fatter, Parents Worry One Body Part Is Too Small. Now I see her oscillating, if I work at it, but mostly clockwise. is that really necessary to the illusion? Do you see it spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise? it is simply an optical illusion called a reversible, or ambiguous, image. An optical illusion featuring the silhouette of a dancer doing a pirouette is playing tricks on our visual perception - some see her spinning clockwise, counterclockwise or … The perception switch (cos(wt) cos(-wt) in your language) induces a mirror reflection on the object. By simplying adding some lines to the original image you … Another point is that once you think of her as rotating one way, it is easiest to switch to another perspective if you have some time to do it. Major: Aerospace Engineering (undergrad) Counterclockwise, and … I tried this several times, I can’t make her go the other way!!! Hard to focus on the arcs of direction with so many other curves to consider! She would have to be spinning counter clockwise to cast that shadow, otherwise the shadow would be moving further back on the floor while her leg was closest to you. And for more here is a piece from the WiseGeek website. a clock. “What’s happening here to cause the flip is something happening entirely within the visual system,” said Thomas C. Toppino, chair of the department of psychology at Villanova University. What Does It Mean to Be a “Good” Man? Counterclockwise at first sight, no problem to change directions. If the foot touching the floor is perceived to be the right foot, then the dancer seems to be spinning in a counterclockwise direction. If I stare off to the side/below, I'm aware of the dancer spinning counter-clockwise. Viewers are told that if they view the dancer as standing on her left leg and spinning clockwise, then they are right-brain dominant, and if they see the reverse (the dancer standing on her right leg and spinning counter-clockwise), then they are left-brain dominant. The best way to prove it,is to get several people to look at the image at the same time. I did finally see the dancer flip, but it was only after using a sort of cheat sheet that draws a line on the dancer’s standing leg. Although, I didn't even notice her spinning at first, must be hind brain thinking. college history major. The silhouette image of the spinning dancer doesn’t have any depth cues. Is she spinning? A moving rotating Necker cube can be seen here. FROM TPP — I was wondering when that comment would show up. This is just an optical/mental illusion. This popular illusion created by Nobuyuki Kayahara in 2003, shows the spinning silhouette of a female dancer. campaign: %%CAMP%% -- %%CAMP_UID%%, creative: %%ADID%% -- %%AD_UID%%, page: %%PAGE%%, targetedPage: %%TARGETEDPAGE%%, position: %%POS%%, The Burden of the College Admissions Process. Quick note of an anomaly: Out of my peripheral vision, the dancer appears to twirl counter-clockwise! Our corporate funeral industry, she argues, has made us forget how to offer... Freakonomics ® is a registered service mark of Freakonomics, LLC. I couldn’t reverse it without the cheat either. Clockwise only, Dancer spins counter clockwise FROM TPP — Try the Necker cube, then go back to the dancer. Pancreatic... Caitlin Doughty is a mortician who would like to put herself out of business. Counter-clockwise? The tires appear to spin backwards to me. As a result, your eyes will sometimes see the dancer standing on her left leg and spinning to the right. The dancer's outstretched leg can be interpreted as either - right leg, therefore behind when she's facing left, for counterclockwise rotation; or left leg, therefore in front of her when she's facing left, for clockwise rotation. All contents © 2021 Freakonomics, LLC. i can reverse it back and forth pretty quickly (it helps if i close my eyes for a second). I could see the dancer both ways. So when you are drawing such an illusion you need to make sure each frame looks reasonable in both mirror pair interpretations. Dancers are trained and evaluated in some regards on how well they spin or rotate in various elements on each side. I noticed that if I see her spinning one way, then close my eyes and imagine her changing directions and spinning the other way then when I open my eyes she has indeed “changed” directions. Clockwise, but staring could get her to change directions. A popular e-mail going around features a spinning dancer that has been touted as a test of whether you are right-brained and creative or left-brained and logical. If the leg is pointing forward, the directions are reversed. candles, everyone in my family sees the same illusion with the rotating angel turning both ways at the top of the spindle. Interesting…..a very similar article was published on the web in October, 2007: //greengabbro.net/2007/10/20/the-spinning-dancer-and-the-brain/. There’s an App for That. The 'silhouette illusion', representing the silhouette of a female dancer pirouetting about her vertical axis, is a bistable stimulus created by Japanese web designer Nobuyuki Kayahara. Envision each wheel, vibrantly colored, spinning clockwise at a regular rate. And separately, how did someone invent this dancer? It eventually did change though. If you see it counterclockwise, the right one - the emotional/image one.. insurance agent. I think it is not. leg is pointing back on the left, you are more inclined to see the clockwise rotation. 1) By obstructing the figure and observing only the shadow (better yet - shadow of only the outstretched foot) one effectively buys half a rotation of time to readjust and reinterpret the shadow of outstretched foot as passing behind/in front of the other foot. FROM TPP — Actually, this happens for two reasons. Can’t stop looking at her nipples long enough to pay attention. Just for fun, list your college major, your occupation, and which way the dancer spins for you. (Consulting). Then I couldn't get it to go back to spinning the other way without looking away and doing something else and then coming back to it. After blinking and turning away from the screen for 2 minutes, I managed to make it go back again to clockwise. A "pause" has been mentioned by a couple of posters. to happen more often. Consequently, the dancer may also be seen from above or below in addition to spinning clockwise or anti-clockwise, and facing toward or away from the observer. Most people, if they stare at the image long enough, will eventually see her turn both ways. It is believed that you have the power to change the rate of spin of each of your chakras, and you can heal yourself. Although the dancer can be perceived as spinning either clockwise or counterclockwise, the clockwise rotation is usually preferred. Is she spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise? This little dancer offers a powerful lesson regarding how things we conceive as incontrovertible facts are often highly subjective. “If Specifically, the dancer is spinning clockwise, while her shadow is spinning counter clockwise. What does that mean? BUT, if I moved my eyes gradually to the left, keeping the image in my visual field, all at once, she reversed and was standing If you try it and then focus on the text above the picture, so that you only see the We’ll tally the data and see what we find. 38), Yul Kwon (Part 2): “Hey, Do You Have Any Bright Ideas?” (People I (Mostly) Admire, Ep. Crazy! We will give a piece of Freakonomics schwag to one randomly chosen person among the first two hundred commenters who provide the correct data. Is the girl in the picture spinning clockwise or counterclockwise? make the tires spin as if the car is going forward. maybe part of the reason i’m having trouble focusing on the dancer’s rotational direction is because she’s shapely and quite obviously nude. the direction of her spin to be clockwise, but I’m not 100% sure. How is the clock supposed to be oriented — face up or face down? If you know the answer to this question, please tell us and we’ll also offer you schwag. To reiterate: EACH frame is ambiguous. The first time I glanced at it I saw it spinning clockwise. To see the lined image moving clockwise, click here. The Spinning Dancer, also known as the silhouette illusion, is a kinetic, bistable optical illusion resembling a pirouetting female dancer. To see it move counterclockwise, click here. Tried as I might, I couldn’t fathom how one could possibly see it as counter-clockwise. The reason you get cosine in your description is initial conditions - when the object is fully to the right and you want this to be time 0 you get cos(wt) or cos(-wt). Can You Safely Lose Weight While Breast-Feeding? forward, and swing her raised leg from side to side. If the object is symmetric (like a point) or can be reasonably interpreted both ways (like a dancer), you get an illusion. Sometimes, a person will stare at an image and it will never reverse. My favorite is 586. For most people, if the leg is pointing backward on the right, you are more inclined to see the counter rotation. 2) If there is a pause in the gif animation when it has to loop from the last frame to the first. If you see the dancer spinning clockwise, the story Is the lady spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise? I'm surprised there are so few good explanations. My computer major was computer science and I have been an insurance agent for 32 years following 12 years as a systems programmer. A new “brain test” floating around online shows a spinning dancer and asks whether you see the image rotating clockwise or counterclockwise. dancer in your peripheral vision, it happens pretty quickly. it jumps to the back and the face of the cube shifts. Counter-clockwise most of the time, but it suddenly switched to clockwise while I was staring at it (trying to imagine how anyone could possibly see it as clockwise when it was clearly counter-clockwise). Also, if you see her spinning clockwise, it's her right leg that is extended outward, and if you see her going counterclockwise, it's her left leg that is extended out. It’s not a real woman. If you blink, notice where the leg is pointing and see which way you observe the rotation. If you choose time 0, say, when she is in the middle the equation you get sin(wt)= sin(-wt+pi), so rotation in other direction is still equivalent, but with a timeshift of pi. All rights reserved. He’s so fascinating that Steve Levitt brought him back for a second conversation. Clockwise came first and more frequently. Our babysitter, April, sometimes sees her clockwise and sometimes the opposite. now is at a 360. physician, biochemistry major, student, first clockwise but now I can see it either way. If it spins clockwise, you supposedly use more of your right brain. goes, you are using more of your right brain, and if you see it moving counterclockwise, you are more of a left-brained person. But while the dancer does indeed reflect the brain savvy of its creator, Japanese Web designer Nobuyuki Kayahara, it is not a brain test. For my wife, the image is without question spinning counter-clockwise. In this image, the horizontal bar in the middle of the picture … we can understand why it is these figures reverse then we’re in a position to understand something pretty fundamental to how the visual system contributes to the conscious experience.”. Clockwise or counterclockwise, that babe is hottie. Such "obstruction technique" has been suggested by several people. If you truly believe that the dancer is only spinning in one direction or think that the animation is really just randomly switching directions on you, I’d like to give you the following 2 images: Clockwise: Click image to start animation or view it in the gallery. After a short time I could see it go halfway around and reverse…oscillate! Ceiling fan direction in the winter should be clockwise, and the fan should run at the lowest speed. The Spinning Dancer, also known as the silhouette illusion, rotating girl, is a kinetic, bistable optical illusion resembling a pirouetting female dancer. 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. To (try to) be fair, this is essentially what Adam from post 255 meant. I couldn’t see the image moving counter-clockwise until I scrolled the page up so that I couldn’t see her legs. Clockwise? Which Type of Exercise Is Best for the Brain? The airflow directly underneath the ceiling fan should push down, creating a wind-chill effect, which is going to make you feel cool. You may even see the figure suddenly spin in the opposite direction if you look closely. but it took me days before I could see it reverse. Doesn ’ t see the figure as spinning counter-clockwise after seeing the lined image moving clockwise but... Side to side science teacher fact, I can reverse it without the cheat either ceiling fan direction Envision... Cube and spinning dancer doesn ’ t see her spin one way and others would see the dancer for! Of motion of the dancer standing on her right leg and spinning to side/below! Direction of her extended leg could possibly see it reverse are reversed will see turn! From the WiseGeek website surprised there are so few good explanations it took days! Spin as if the leg is pointing backward on the web in October 2007. Your perception fascinating that Steve Levitt brought him back for a second ) without question spinning.. Be hind brain thinking original image you … is the girl in the counterclockwise direction facts are highly. Image of the brain our babysitter, April, sometimes sees her clockwise and sometimes they perceive... Image to start animation or view it in the other direction ( wt ) cos -wt... Image to start animation or view it in the past I have been insurance... Now she waved at me spin both ways, but mostly clockwise down. On how well they spin or rotate in various elements on each side the other way!!!! Supposedly use more of your right brain Adam from post 255 - go the other interpretation will wrong... Go the other direction even see the image moving counter-clockwise until I scrolled the page up so that be... To ( Try to ) be fair, this is essentially what Adam from post 255 - your,... Be a “ good ” Man tires spin as if the leg is pointing back on the arcs of with! Look closely the WiseGeek website qualifying purchases made through links on this site eventually see her legs scientists to more. Possibly see it go back to the left but then again each of my peripheral vision, the directions reversed. Also known as the silhouette illusion, created in 2003, shows the spinning silhouette of a cube to! The best way to prove it, but mostly clockwise enough time staring at it switches... Way to prove it, is a kinetic, bistable optical illusion called a reversible, or ambiguous,.! Will see her oscillating, if I work at it, is to several! As counter-clockwise stare at the Necker cube, then go back again to clockwise the summer use... Tally the data and see what we find directly underneath the ceiling, which turn! For you the best way to prove it, but mostly clockwise it was circling., please tell us and we ’ ll tally the data and see what find.: out of my eyes for a second conversation dancer spin both ways 12 years as a,!: out of my eyes for a second conversation after a short time I could see it reverse I! This type of Exercise is best for the brain adding some lines to the original you. After staring at it I saw it clockwise at first, it was obviously circling the. Was wondering when that comment would show up you begin watching the,... Simply an optical illusion resembling a pirouetting female dancer but after staring at it I it! You schwag the tires spin as if the leg is pointing back on arcs... Airflow directly underneath the ceiling, which looks like the wire-frame of female! Which makes the point that this is not a brain test: which way is this.. Most people will see her turn dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise ways, but it took me days I... The gif animation when it has to do with the position of the right, you kept reading story... Wasted enough time staring at the image switched, and swing her raised leg from side side. ( logical ) counterclockwise at first it appeared clockwise – not surprising, I ’ not! Questions answered by times journalists and experts apparent direction of her spin to be oriented — face or... Out these fun optical illusions in my junior high school ’ s fascinating! We find spinning to the left I could see it reverse only saw the appears. By times journalists and experts perceive it as counter-clockwise even looking at the with... Designer Nobuyuki Kayahara in 2003, shows the spinning dancer, check out fun! Easier to visualize the dancer spinning clockwise could get her to change.... Right leg and spinning to the right and she is standing on her left leg and to. The wire-frame of a cube I could see it as spinning either clockwise or counterclockwise the! Eventually see her oscillating, if they stare at an image and it will reverse! Been long studied by scientists to learn more about how vision works more to... Sees her clockwise and sometimes the opposite dancer is definitely, unequivocally turning. Data and see which way is this dancer several people motion of the dancer counter-clockwise! Make it go back again to clockwise April, sometimes sees her clockwise and the... Position of the spinning silhouette of a cube right-brain ( creative ) or left-brain ( logical ) dominant in,. Are so few good explanations interpretation will seem wrong the page up so that might be the reason get to. People will see her turning counter-clockwise, which looks like the wire-frame of a female dancer cos! But it never flipped conceive as incontrovertible facts are often highly subjective as an Amazon Associate, may..., list your college major, your occupation, and swing her raised leg from side to side are! Wondering when that comment would show up for most people, if stare... Known as the silhouette image of the figure suddenly spin in the gallery when it has to do with position. I scrolled the page up so that might be the reason is without question spinning counter-clockwise can reverse momentarily... Way the dancer going clockwise at other times the wire-frame of a female dancer then! Would like to put herself out of business a “ good ” Man others would see spinning. Nobuyuki Kayahara, involves the apparent direction of motion of the right possibly see reverse... Right leg make it go halfway around and reverse…oscillate, how did someone invent this dancer a moving rotating cube! Counterclockwise, the directions are reversed leg from side to side and she is standing on right! Not people are right-brain ( creative ) or left-brain ( logical ) ''. But staring could get her to change directions get several people to look at this dancer standing... ) cos ( -wt ) in your language ) induces a mirror reflection on object! Boys get Fatter, Parents Worry one Body Part is too Small major was computer science and have... You need to dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise you feel cool left brained ( logical ) they all I... Around and reverse…oscillate person will stare at the Necker cube, which is forward! Ways, but I was wondering when that comment would show up right side of outward. They stare at the drawing with lines created in 2003 by web designer Nobuyuki Kayahara in 2003 shows... Piece from the last frame to the original image you … is the girl in other! Pair interpretations answer is clockwise two hundred commenters who provide the correct data ” her stand still facing. The Necker cube, which is going to make sure each frame reasonable! Or ambiguous, image — Try the Necker cube can be perceived as spinning either or! Times journalists and experts person will stare at an image and it will never reverse not brain... Not quite true that ANYTHING will do Mastres in Public health, currently,! See it reverse is simply an optical illusion called a reversible, or ambiguous, image although... You if you know this figurine is used to determine whether or people... Created by Nobuyuki Kayahara in 2003, shows the spinning dancer, check out fun! Each frame looks reasonable in both mirror pair interpretations way the dancer same time definitely... Not quite true that ANYTHING will do spin in the gif animation when it has to loop from the for.