|
Foot Circles
This week's experiment is one that my
Mother-in-law shows me while I was in New Zealand. It made the rounds through
the internet recently as a curiosity, but there is science here too. Several
weeks ago, we experimented with confusing your body's movements by crossing the
midline (#358). This week, we will use the science of complex systems to
confuse your body again.
To try this, you will need:
Lift your right foot about 6 inches off the
ground. Now start moving it in circles, clockwise. As you continue doing
that, use your right hand to draw a number 6 in the air in front of you. As
you do that, you will find that your foot has changed directions and is now
going counterclockwise.
Now, how did that happen? Although the
experiment is easy, it is far from simple. It took quite a bit of digging to
trace this trick back to Professor Haken and the science of Synergetics. This
science deals with the ways that complex systems work. In a complex system
such as your brain and nervous system, there are many different signals moving
back and forth. Some of these signals are treated with more importance than
others. Some of the signals also become coupled, with one signal guiding the
other. That is what is happening with your foot and hand. Your hand movement
couples with your foot movement, but your hand movement is treated with more
importance, so your foot changes direction.
Even more interesting is that you don't
actually have to move your hand. Try the experiment again, but this time just
think about drawing the number 6 in the air. Your foot will still reverse.
The pattern of your thoughts still couples with the movement of your foot. For
even more fun, try drawing a number 8. Redraw the number over and over in a
continuous motion and you will find that your foot keeps switching back and
forth
There are several variables in this
experiment, so it may not work exactly for you the first time. If you find
that it does not work well, trying circling your right foot while drawing the 6
with your left hand. Try reversing things, using your left foot and right
hand, etc.
Why do your body movements couple? Get up
and walk slowly across the room. Pay close attention to all the movements
involved in walking. Yes, your legs move, but so does the rest of your body.
You shift your position slightly with each step, to keep your balance. What if
you had to think consciously about the movement of every muscle? Walking would
be a very slow and tedious process, just as it is for a baby learning to walk.
Our bodies quickly learn to group all those motions into patterns, giving
various levels of importance to each. Soon the patterns are automatic. As
your foot steps forward, your body shifts to keep your center of gravity over
the other foot. As you sit down, you lean forward, again to keep your
balance. As you open the freezer, your hand grasps the ice cream
container......
Have a wonder filled week.
Back to Experiment List
|
