This story began, like so many in the history of science, with something we were not looking for. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we were studying a practical question: How do people move around in an enclosed space when you ask them to keep apart from one another? Watching the footage time after time, we noticed something odd: Almost every participant walked in loops that turned in the same direction, always counterclockwise. Stranger still, none of them seemed to have noticed they were doing it.
❓ Unknown
Study Reveals Natural Tendency to Walk Counterclockwise in Enclosed Spaces
Just now
October 1, 2026
1 min read
📰 Medical Xpress
📋 Key Takeaway
A study during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that participants naturally walked in counterclockwise loops without realizing it. This phenomenon was observed while researching how people navigate enclosed spaces while maintaining social distance. The findings could have implications for understanding human behavior in crowded environments, which may be relevant for urban planning in Iran.
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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
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