• Question: Why is it when you rotate your foot clock wise and draw a six in the air with your finger it then goes aticlockwise?

    Asked by dbryce to Andrew, Daniel, Hayley, Natalia, Peta on 16 Nov 2011.
    • Photo: Andrew Cairns

      Andrew Cairns answered on 14 Nov 2011:

      My entire research group says “WOW!” We have no idea why though!

      (we will be doing this for the rest of the day now by the way, there goes any work!)

    • Photo: Hayley Smith

      Hayley Smith answered on 14 Nov 2011:

      I too have no idea, but that is rather freaky… it felt like my hand and foot were in someway connected. Which I guess they are really! I guess it’s something in the brain getting a bit confused?

      Edit: but hmm, that was doing right foot and right finger. I got the same result for left foot and left finger. But when I tried left foot and right finger or right foot and left finger I was OK, the 6 came out OK….how strange?! I still don’t know the answer why though, I’m afraid…

    • Photo: Peta Foster

      Peta Foster answered on 14 Nov 2011:

      It is an interesting question…

      some people claim that the fact that you cannot rub your head and pat your stomach, or rotate your foot clockwise and then try to draw a six with your finger, indicates that motor programs in the brain for each limb are linked together.

      The reason for this might be that it makes coordination easier but it definitely makes drumming different tempos with different hands quite difficult. 😀

      Good question and i hope this helps,

      Peta

    • Photo: Daniel Scully

      Daniel Scully answered on 16 Nov 2011:

      I’ve never heard of that! Pretty weird.

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