Phisological Weirdness - Quotidian Loveliness

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Phisological Weirdness

Aug. 23rd, 2007 at 2:26 PM

You can do t his experiment right now, where you are. Obviously you're at a computer, so you're sitting down.

Lift your right foot off the floor, and make clockwise circles in the air. Now draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. Your foot will reverse direction.

There is nothing you can do about it. Your mind is now blown.

Current Mood: accomplished

Comments

( 23 comments — Leave a comment )

Aug. 23rd, 2007 09:41 pm (UTC)

Some of us can actually do this, you know. That *really* blows people's minds.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 09:45 pm (UTC)

Did you draw the "6" straight up and down? If you do it on the desktop, for instance, it's easy.

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elanya

Aug. 23rd, 2007 09:50 pm (UTC)

I can do it - slowly, after a few practice goes. But then I've always have good independent coordination, and dance and years of kit drumming did a lot to help that

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:00 pm (UTC)

Yes, the 6 is drawn in the air, vertically. I've even done it after a few beers, down at the pub.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 09:57 pm (UTC)

I can maintain the circle with my foot and draw a 6 in the air no sweat... what kind of oddball does that make me?

~j

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 09:59 pm (UTC)

Clockwise? Circle parallel to the ground, and 6 perpendicular?

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:01 pm (UTC)

Ah, now that I haven't tried - the test I was given was to draw both perpendicular to the ground. You just lift your foot flat up and rotate at the ankle, rather than pointing your foot down and rotating with your knee.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:06 pm (UTC)

Ah, the crux of the issue. Yeah, I can do that too, if I concentrate. But doing one parallel and one perpendicular, my foot at least cuts the radius of the circle before I get it back in the right direction. It's freaky.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:19 pm (UTC)

Just tried - yep, can do that too.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:22 pm (UTC)

I'm totally testing all you people next time I see you.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:29 pm (UTC)

Well, ask the related question - how many of the people who said they can do it are ambidextrous? I am; my left-hand writing is like that of a 7-year old or so because I never use it, but I can do it.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:30 pm (UTC)

Actually, everyone who said they can is a musician, which is probably more telling. I'm still going to test 'em, because the other thing pretty much everyone on my f-list likes to be is special.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:07 pm (UTC)

Yep, pretty much in any combination of starting the movement from wrist, elbow, or knuckle and knee or ankle.

Weird.

I chalk it up to the hours and hours of Eurythmics classes I received at Ithaca. We did this kind of thing all the time.

~j

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:09 pm (UTC)

Hey I know that band. I even had lunch with the keyboard player, once.

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:14 pm (UTC)

Verily, they rocketh.

~j

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(Deleted comment)

Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:29 pm (UTC)

I believe that is the same reason for me.

Once you play enough Bach fugues or Mozart or even Axel F, you can do this thing without switching directions. :)

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 10:29 pm (UTC)

I am not swayed by such things. I can make a six without switching directions. I have to think about it, but I can do it. :)

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Aug. 23rd, 2007 11:54 pm (UTC)

Yep. Stupid instrument stuffs.

I can pat my head and rub my belly too.

Funny tho Davy. I asked a few others in the office, they were screwed.

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Aug. 24th, 2007 07:00 am (UTC)

I <3 you for entertaining me in the airport.

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catrionamacnair

Aug. 24th, 2007 10:54 am (UTC)

That is incredibly awesome. And for a second, I thought 'hey, it doesn't work' - until I realized that my sense of direction was wrong there, and it did work very much.

This is nice. I must google for more physiological weirdness. This is like an easter-egg in this game the Gods programmed :)

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catrionamacnair

Aug. 24th, 2007 10:56 am (UTC)

Right, after reading all the 'but I can do it' comments I tried again - it is possible to keep moving clockwise, but if you do not concentrate, you move into the other direction. Which is more fascinating than the tour de force anyway.

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Aug. 24th, 2007 07:10 pm (UTC)

I thought "Bah.. I can do it!" But then I realized I was drawing the 6 with my left hand. When I switched to my right hand.. I can't do it. Even when I try *really* hard. *pout* And I fail at music. :(

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Aug. 24th, 2007 07:12 pm (UTC)

I think it's definitely a musical thing - people who have had long practice at doing independent things with each hand, and especially hands and feet (like drummers) find it easier - those of us who haven't aren't quite as gifted. :)

But I'm still going to test those nerds.

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( 23 comments — Leave a comment )