by J.D.G.

Created on: April 30, 2010

*Crazy Writing Illusions*
Here are a few easy, inexpensive tricks that highlight perceptual illusions through writing.  These fun tricks are also a great way for kids to learn about how the brain, concentration, and hand-eye coordination all work together.

BACKWARDS WRITING

*What you'll need*
A pencil
An index card or small rectangle of heavyweight paper

*How to do this trick*

Step 1: Hold the index card (or heavyweight paper) in front of your forehead.

Step2 : Quickly write your name on the card while still holding the card up to your forehead (your forehead will be acting as a kind of writing desk).

Step 3: Look at the card and be amazed! Chances are, your name is in mirror writing!

*Why this works*
If you wrote your name quickly, you were probably not concentrating too hard on the direction of your writing. Out of habit, assuming you write in English, you most likely started your name at the left, and finished on the right. In other words, you wrote your name in the direction that you would normally write your name. The problem with this is that, because of the placement of the card, you need to reverse the direction of your writing. If you do not reverse the direction of your writing, your name will be in mirror writing every time!

If you do this in front of a mirror it becomes even more challenging, because you are receiving visual feedback of your name being correctly written, when in reality it is still backwards. The mirror will show you a reverse image, making your backwards written name appear in the correct format.

TWIRLING FOOT CONFUSION

*What you'll need*
A pencil
A piece of paper

*How to do this trick*
Step 1: Sit up straight at a table, with a piece of paper in front of you.

Step2 : Lift one foot off the ground, and make clockwise circles with your leg

Step 3: Now write your full name. Chances are, it looks pretty good - as if you were writing your name without circling your leg under the table.

Step 4: Now, write your name again, except this time, change the direction of your leg circles as you write so that you are circling your leg counterclockwise under the table. Chances are, your pencil lines will start to cross, and your name will come out looking like a scribbled version of the real thing. Change legs, and circle your other leg under the table. Does this affect your writing in the same way?

*Why this works*
If you are circling your leg in the direction of your writing, you can probably write your name legibly. Circling your leg in the opposite direction of your writing, however, will make the pencil lines cross over themselves, and the writing will start to resemble scribbles after a short while.

This is because the leg movements are transferred to your writing. Because you have to concentrate on both the writing and the leg circles, it is very difficult to simultaneously perform both actions well. Your concentration can only hold out for so long before your hand-eye coordination is affected by your leg movement!

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