Right Brain Left Brain
By
Steven Gillman
The
concept of "right brain left brain" refers to the two hemispheres
of your brain. Some amazing experiments involving people who've had the
corpus callosum cut taught us most of what we know about the
differences between the two sides.
The
surgery is performed on epileptics to reduce the incidence of seizures,
and it isolates most of the right hemisphere from the left hemisphere.
For a typical experiment, a divider allows a participant to see two
objects - say, a cup with the right eye and a lemon with the left.
When
asked what they see, they'll say they see a cup, and nothing more,
because most people process both language and information from the
right eye with their left brain (left hemisphere).
However,
when they write down what they see, using their left hand, they'll
write "a lemon," because both the left hand and eye are controlled by
the right side of the brain.
Of course, you have only one brain, and the two hemispheres work
together normally. These split-brain experiments show how distinct the
two sides really are, though. When the corpus callosum is cut it's as
if there really are two brains. What have we learned from these
experiments then?
Left Brain
For more than 90% of right-handed people and 70% of left-handed people,
the left hemisphere:
- Processes things more sequentially.
- It is more rational, logical, analytical, and objective.
- It looks at the parts.
- It handles normal speech.
If you want to stimulate and strengthen the thinking processes of your
"left brain," talk about things as logically as you can. Also, picking
apart an argument or something you read can exercise this part of the
brain too.
While
there is little hard evidence as to the effects of specific exercises,
talking or working on your analytical skills are safe things to do, so
experiment freely.
Right Brain
Again, the following is true for most people. The right hemisphere:
- Handles thing in more random and subjective manor.
- Is responsible for "hunches" and other intuitive processes.
- Looks more at wholes, and is best at pattern-recognition.
If you want to exercise your "right brain," sing. Stutterers find that
they don't stutter when they sing, because it is handled differently
than regular speech. writing or reciting free-form poetry and studying
maps may help as well. Again, these are not proven by scientific
studies yet, but there is no danger in experimenting in these areas.
Right Brain Left Brain Dominance
Most of us seem to favor one style or another of thinking, and this may
be an indication of the dominance of one or the other hemisphere. For
exmple, it seems likely that the choice between joining the debating
team or the art class in school has something to do with which side is
dominant.
You
have probably noticed that left-handed people, who presumably have a
more developed right hemisphere, are more often artists.
If you want to be more "whole brained" in your approach to things, you
can start by working on your weakest areas, using some of the tips
above. Also, you can bring both sides into whatever you do.
For
example, metaphors, a right-hemisphere process, can be used in logical
(left hemisphere) debate. Artistic work can include more analysis.
Can
this really help balance your thinking? Probably. Time and more
research will tell. In the meantime, it can't hurt to more fully use
your right brain and left brain.
~ ~ ~
Steve
Gillman has been studying brainpower and related topics for years. For
more on How To Increase Brain Power, and to get the Brain Power
Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com
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