my brain is spinning

[cluebyfour]

I thought this optical illusion (via Marginal Revolution) was fascinating and wanted to test its hypothesis.

Take a careful look at the picture, then answer my first poll in nearly a year!

Poll cluebyfour's random poll: spinning dancer test

Comments

[ilcylic]

Moreover, I can't even see how the dancer could be turning the other way.

If there wasn't a reflected shadow, and thus, a solid indication of front vs: back, and due to the direction of travel of the shadow, left vs: right, I might be able to make my brain see it the other way. As it is, the shadow indicates when the outstretched leg is "in front", and since it is in front when it is, and the leg passes from right to left... her direction of spin isn't up for much interpretation.

Ironically, they are claiming that by seeing it clockwise, I'm displaying more intuition than logic, but it's the logical analysis that drives my interpretation.

In short, I strongly suspect they are FOS.

[jonathonjones]

I also can't see how a person could see it going counter-clockwise.

I am NOT right-brained.

[ilcylic]

I even tried putting a terminal a window over my browser window to cover up the shadow. At which point the order in which her breasts become visible is the dominant clue.

At this point I'm trying to come up with definitions of "counter clockwise" under which there could be a perspective shift to make them relevant, but I'm pretty much failing there too.

[cluebyfour]

I finally got the dancer to switch direction--I looked only at the shadow, first, then scrolled up. It then appeared to be spinning counter-clockwise to me. But in an instant, my perspective would shift and she appeared to be going in the opposite direction.

No, I don't know if this supports their hypothesis at all, but it's still freaky.

[admirari]

yes me too, it kept switching when i wasn't looking WEIRD!! i need to get high and stare at that for hours