I'm Not in My Right Mind


When you look at image above, what do you see? A girl spinning? Which way is she spinning… clockwise or counter-clockwise?

Supposedly if you see her spinning clockwise it means you are right brained, and if you see her spinning counter-clockwise you are left brained. And if you see both, I suppose it means you are schizophrenic? Here are the purported characteristics of people with dominate right or left brain hemispheres:

Left Brained: Counter-Clockwise = “Rational”

  • Responds to verbal instructions
  • Problem solves by logically and sequentially looking at the parts of things
  • Looks at differences
  • Is planned and structured
  • Prefers established, certain information
  • Prefers talking and writing
  • Prefers multiple choice tests
  • Controls feelings
  • Prefers ranked authority structures


Right Brained: Clockwise = “Intuitive”

  • Responds to demonstrated instructions
  • Problem solves with hunches, looking for patterns and configurations
  • Looks at similarities
  • Is fluid and spontaneous
  • Prefers elusive, uncertain information
  • Prefers drawing and manipulating objects
  • Prefers open ended questions
  • Free with feelings
  • Prefers collegial authority structures
So, what do you see? Does the direction you see her spin and the corresponding description above describe you? Post your comments below. And if you ask real nice, maybe I’ll tell you how to see her spin the other way. Oh, and if your wondering what the direction really means, I’ll be happy to tell you that, too… later.

But first… what do you see?

Okay, here’s my opinion on all the above
(added Friday, September 25, 2009)

A few thoughts on the graphic. First of all, it really isn’t rotating at all. It’s a 2-dimensional set of still images, that when viewed in sequence (as an animated GIF) are translated by our brain as 3-dimensional movement. And it could be viewed by ones brain as rotating in either direction.

In fact, one person said they saw it rotate half-way one direction, stop and rotate back the other direction and repeat each time. I’m a bit concerned about what that says about that person’s brain, but it’s an entirely possible and valid way of seeing the image.

As Shannon said below in the comments, it is (or at least may be) possible for most of you to control which direction the image turns. The best way to do this is to focus on the lower foot only. Imagine it going the other direction, and you will likely see it do so.

Once that’s happened, the entire image should rotate the other direction, of course. If you have trouble seeing this, put your hand over all but the lower foot and focus just on it. Then once you see it change direction move your hand. See it now?

As for whether this says you are left or right brained… I doubt it. In fact, the generalizations of characteristics for those with brain hemisphere dominance on one side or the other is… well… a generalization. We all, unless brain damaged, rely on cooperation between both halves.

So… can you do it? Can you change directions? Post a comment and let us know.

8 comments

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  1. I'm with Maria!! I had a very similar experience! Michael, is this a social experiment where you try to make your blog readers question their sanity? LOL! I know I can be a little goofy anyway 🙂 But seriously I saw the counter clockwise, then scrolled down and back up and looked again and she was spinning clockwise…but then it stayed clockwise and hasn't changed back….yet.

  2. Oh crap – she reversed on me – and I watched it happen…not scrolling down and back up this time, but happened as I looked at her.AAAAAHHHHH Scrolled back up and she's back to clockwise!

  3. Maybe I'm "gaslighting" you? Perhaps it's all just a mind game (pun intended) and I've programmed the image to go one direction for a while, and then change directions randomly? Hmmmm…Shannon showed this to me. It helps to be schizophrenic. I've got it all figured out now. And so do I. Shut up. You never let me talk. I said shut up! Uhm, I better to now. Me, too. Talk to you later. Talk to you later.

  4. LMAO!! You're too funny!

  5. Thanks, Laura, we agree!No… we don't!

  6. Geez- you'd think he'd put you guys out of your misery!! And tell you whats happening!PS. I can make it change pretty much at will now!:)

  7. Okay, a few thoughts on the graphic. First of all, it really isn't rotating at all. It's a 2-dimensional set of still images, that when viewed in sequence (as an animated GIF) are translated by our brain as 3-dimensional movement. And it could be viewed by ones brain as rotating in either direction.In fact, one person said they saw it rotate half-way one direction, stop and rotate back the other direction and repeat each time. I'm a bit concerned about what that says about that person's brain, but it's an entirely possible and valid way of seeing the image.As Shannon said, it is (or at least may) be possible for most of you to control which direction the image turns. The best way to do this is to focus on the lower foot only. Imagine it going the other direction, and you will likely see it do so.Once that's happened, the entire image should rotate the other direction, of course. If you have trouble seeing this, put your hand over all but the lower foot and focus just on it. The once you see it change direction move your hand.As for whether this says if you are left or right brained… I doubt it. In fact the generalizations about the characteristics of those with brain hemisphere dominance on one side or the other is questionable. We all, unless brain damaged, rely on cooperation between both halves.So… can you do it? Can you change directions? Post a comment and let us know.

  8. Funny, at first look she was spinning right, then I looked away and back again and there she was, spinning left! 😉 Oh, dear ….

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