Have you ever heard people say that they
tend to be more of a right-brain or left-brain thinker? From books to
television programs, you've probably heard the phrase mentioned numerous times
or perhaps you've even taken an online test to determine which type best
describes you. Given the popularity of the idea of "right brained"
and "left brained" thinkers, it might surprise you learn that
this idea is little more than a myth.
What
Is Left Brain - Right Brain Theory?
According to the theory of left-brain or
right-brain dominance, each side of the brain controls different types of
thinking. Additionally, people are said to prefer one type of thinking over the
other. For example, a person who is "left-brained" is often said to
be more logical, analytical, and objective, while a person who is
"right-brained" is said to be more intuitive, thoughtful, and
subjective.
In psychology, the theory is based on what
is known as the lateralization of brain function. So does one side of the brain
really control specific functions? Are people either left-brained or
right-brained? Like many popular psychology myths, this one grew out of
observations about the human brain that were then dramatically distorted and
exaggerated.
The right brain-left brain theory
originated in the work of Roger W. Sperry, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in
1981. While studying the effects of epilepsy, Sperry discovered that cutting
the corpus collosum (the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain)
could reduce or eliminate seizures.
However, these patients also experienced
other symptoms after the communication pathway between the two sides of the
brain was cut. For example, many split-brain patients found themselves unable
to name objects that were processed by the right side of the brain, but were
able to name objects that were processed by the left-side of the brain. Based
on this information, Sperry suggested that language was controlled by the
left-side of the brain.
Later research has shown that the brain is
not nearly as dichotomous as once thought. For example, recent research has
shown that abilities in subjects such as math are actually strongest when both
halves of the brain work together. Today, neuroscientists know that the two
sides of the brain work together to perform a wide variety of tasks and that
the two hemispheres communicate through the corpus collosum.
"No matter how lateralized the brain
can get, though, the two sides still work together," science writer Carl
Zimmer explained in an article for Discover magazine. "The pop
psychology notion of a left brain and a right brain doesn’t capture their
intimate working relationship. The left hemisphere specializes in picking out
the sounds that form words and working out the syntax of the words, for
example, but it does not have a monopoly on language processing. The right
hemisphere is actually more sensitive to the emotional features of language,
tuning in to the slow rhythms of speech that carry intonation and stress."
In one study by researchers at the
University of Utah, more 1,000 participants had their brains analyzed in order
to determine if they preferred using one side over the other. The study
revealed that while activity was sometimes higher in certain important regions,
both sides of the brain were essentially equal in their activity on average.
“It’s absolutely true that some brain
functions occur in one or the other side of the brain. Language tends to be on
the left, attention more on the right. But people don’t tend to have a stronger
left- or right-sided brain network. It seems to be determined more connection
by connection," explained the study's lead author Dr. Jeff Anderson.
While the idea of right brain / left brain
thinkers has been debunked, its popularity persists. So what exactly
did this theory suggest?
The
Right Brain
According to the left-brain, right-brain
dominance theory, the right side of the brain is best at expressive and
creative tasks. Some of the abilities that are popularly associated with the
right side of the brain include:
- Recognizing faces
- Expressing emotions
- Music
- Reading emotions
- Color
- Images
- Intuition
- Creativity
The
Left Brain
The left-side of the brain is considered to
be adept at tasks that involve logic, language and analytical thinking. The
left-brain is often described as being better at:
- Language
- Logic
- Critical thinking
- Numbers
- Reasoning
So
Why Do People Still Talk About Right-Brain, Left-Brain Theory?
Researchers have demonstrated that
right-brain/left-brain theory is a myth, yet its popularity persists. Why?
Unfortunately many people are likely unaware that the theory is outdated.
Today, students might continue to learn about the theory as a point of
historical interest - to understand how our ideas about how the brain
works have evolved and changed over time as researchers have learned more about
how the brain operates.
While over-generalized and overstated by
popular psychology and self-help texts, understanding your strengths and
weaknesses in certain areas can help you develop better ways to learn and
study. For example, students who have a difficult time following verbal
instructions (often cited as a right-brain characteristic) might benefit from
writing down directions and developing better organizational skills. The
important thing to remember if you take one of the many left brain/right
brain quizzes that you will likely encounter online is that they are entirely
for fun and you shouldn't place much stock in your results.
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