Sometimes news reports just boggle the mind - like this one.
People who walk backwards perform better in a memory test than those who stand still or walk forward, a study has found.
Researchers asked 114 volunteers to watch a video in which a woman had her bag stolen and then answer a questionnaire about what they could recall.
After watching the video, participants were split into groups - one was told to walk forwards or backwards 30 feet (10m) while a control group stood in one place.
They were then asked twenty questions about the events in the video and it was found that the backward-walking group got two more answers correct on average than the forward-walkers and the non-walkers.
Experts from the University of Roehampton discovered a similar effect in five variations of the experiment.
One of them involved a similar procedure but tested how many words the volunteers could remember from a list.
In others, participants simply imagined moving forwards or backwards, or watched a video filmed on a train, which created the impression of moving forwards or backwards.
In all scenarios, the backwards group or those who imagined walking backwards got the most answers right.
There's more at the link.
If that's true, how come we have so many dumb politicians? They're backward enough to be geniuses by now! I suppose it's because they tiptoe around hot-button issues, rather than walk . . .
Anyway, what else can I do, in the light of that report, but bring you this (in)famous song from The Goon Show in the mid-1950's?
Peter
Walking backwards is enough to wake the brain up?
ReplyDeleteWhile I appreciate how it might help the brain, I'm not buying that small a sample or result.
ReplyDelete"Now, Neddie, we have a sure cure for your memory problem."
ReplyDelete"I'll try anything!"
"First we need you to sign this treatment agreement. All perfectly standard. Just sign here."
"N-E-D-D-I-E S-E-A-G-O-O-N. There!"
"Now all you have to do is walk backwards. Just face this way, like this. Now start walking backwards."
"Like this?"
"Keep going. Keep your eyes on me, and keep walking until I tell you to stop."
"Sapristi knuckoes! When he walks over the cliff - with the will he signed - we inherit Baron Seagoon's fortune!"
"April in Pariiiis!"
Doesn't work for politicians. They can talk the talk but cannot walk the walk whether forward or back.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the Ying-Tong Song, myself, and "What time is it, Eccles?" if we can expand beyond music. However, "I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas" is certainly more seasonal.
ReplyDelete