Why threading a needle is so difficult

Scientists have shed light on why threading a needle can be such a challenge, even if you do have good eyesight and a steady hand.

According to Dr Stephanie Goodhew of the Australian National University's Research School of Psychology, it's got to do with the message your hands send to your brain, Discovery News reported.

It has been known for some time that there is something special about the space around your hands when it comes to vision, Goodhew, who is lead author of the study, said.

She said that visual stimuli are processed differently when they occur near our hands.

If you are trying to detect flashing targets on a computer screen, you will perform better if your hands are near the screen, Goodhew said.

But, not all tasks are performed better when your hands are closer to them.

Carrying out tasks that require detailed processing like reading is subtly less efficient when your hands are in the picture, says Goodhew.

The study is published in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin and Review.