Humans prefer to walk anticlockwise, scientists find – but reason is unclear

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jun/10/humans-prefer-to-walk-anticlockwise-scientists-find-reason-unclear

7 6 1 month ago

During months of gallstones the pain would keep me up at night. Walking around the house in a loop helped me endure the hours.

My loopiness was anticlockwise.

defrost• 1 month ago

Widdershins 'bout the church .. 'tis the loopiest loopy one can loop.

helsinkiandrew• 1 month ago

I remember studies on animals have shown the same but can't remember which. I found sheep at least do:

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/who-knew-but-sheep-pref...

BLKNSLVR• 1 month ago

The "general" direction for an indoor roller skating rink is anti-clockwise.

Having said that, I was recently told by a figure skater that they're always coached to perform their spins clockwise (ie. Turn towards the left). This is, of course, somewhat different to walking/skating in wide loops, but maybe still interesting. (Also interesting to me is that I do closer turns, like stops and forward to backwards transitions, turning to my right, ie anti-clockwise)

I wonder if it has anything to do with 'handedness'. Do left handed people prefer walking clockwise?

abstractspoon• 1 month ago

Shorter left legs?

beardyw• 1 month ago

I remember headlines like " "Scotland filling up!" when they found that more vehicles were going North on the Forth road bridge than were going south. It turned out that people planning a trip around Scotland would go anticlockwise.

Humans prefer to walk anticlockwise, scientists find – but reason is unclear

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