The Left and Right Brain
The brain is divided into two hemispheres, the right brain and left the brain. Modern theory suggests that each side is responsible for a different type of thinking. It is very difficult to separate the two structures, but experiments have determined that one side has more activity for specific types of brain activity than the other. The right hemisphere is often called the creative side of the brain, while the left hemisphere is the logical or analytical side of the brain. The brain's right hemisphere controls the muscles on the left side of the body, while the left hemisphere controls the muscles on the right side of the body. When you wink your right eye, that's the left side of your brain is at work. Because of this criss cross wiring, damage to one side of the brain affects the opposite side of the body.
The right hemisphere is mainly in charge of spatial abilities, face recognition and processing music. It performs some math, but only rough estimations and comparisons. The brain's right side also helps us to comprehend visual imagery and make sense of what we see. It plays a role in language, particularly in interpreting context and a person's tone.
The left hemisphere is dominant in language: processing what you hear and handling most of the duties of speaking. It's also in charge of carrying out logic and exact mathematical computations. When you need to retrieve a fact, your left brain pulls it from your memory.
The key differences between the left and right sides of the brain.
Right Brain
· Holistic, big-picture oriented
· Random processing oriented
· Concrete processing oriented
· Intuitive decision making
· Non-verbal processing oriented
· Fantasy-oriented
Left Brain
· Linear, details oriented
· Sequential or list oriented
· Symbolic processing oriented
· Logical decision making
· Verbal processing oriented
· Reality-oriented
Most people tend to have a dominant side of their brain, and they tend to process information using their dominant side. This doesn't mean that individuals only use half of their brain. It just reflects a matter of right versus left brain balance in processing information and performing activities.
The right hemisphere is mainly in charge of spatial abilities, face recognition and processing music. It performs some math, but only rough estimations and comparisons. The brain's right side also helps us to comprehend visual imagery and make sense of what we see. It plays a role in language, particularly in interpreting context and a person's tone.
The left hemisphere is dominant in language: processing what you hear and handling most of the duties of speaking. It's also in charge of carrying out logic and exact mathematical computations. When you need to retrieve a fact, your left brain pulls it from your memory.
The key differences between the left and right sides of the brain.
Right Brain
· Holistic, big-picture oriented
· Random processing oriented
· Concrete processing oriented
· Intuitive decision making
· Non-verbal processing oriented
· Fantasy-oriented
Left Brain
· Linear, details oriented
· Sequential or list oriented
· Symbolic processing oriented
· Logical decision making
· Verbal processing oriented
· Reality-oriented
Most people tend to have a dominant side of their brain, and they tend to process information using their dominant side. This doesn't mean that individuals only use half of their brain. It just reflects a matter of right versus left brain balance in processing information and performing activities.