The left and the right brain
Our brains have a big fold that goes from the front to the
back, divided it into two halves. There are networks of thick
cables called the corpus collosum that connect the two sides.
This corpus collosum is key part in out brains. There was
an experiment conducted by Roger Sperry in 1981 where a patient
had the corpus collosum removed from his brain. The patient
was perfectly normal except for the fact that one half of
the body was separated from the other. They did an experiment
where they showed the patient a pencil to his right eye and
hand, and the patient could name it but not explain what it
was used for. When the pencil was presented to the left side
the patient could demonstrate and explain its use, but could
not name it. Thus they concluded that each side of the brain
had a different way to interoperate and react to things.
Each side of the brain has a different mode of thinking. People
use different sides if the brain depending on the function
that has presented itself. The choice of which brain is in
control of which situation, determines our personality and
character.
The conscious mind can only focus on information coming from
brain at a time. Eventually consciousness is delegated on
one brain. In certain situations a different side of the brain
would be more useful to some. There have been ways however
to shut the left brain down. When the left brain is bored
by lack of input, such as during mediation, it dozes off.
But usually the left brain comes quickly into consciousness
once again. Other ways include standing on the leg opposite
the brain you want to be focused on, for a minute. Another
way is by pinching the hand opposite the brain you want to
stimulate focus on. However if pain becomes unbearable the
brain will focus away from he brain you want. These stimulations
will only work for a short time. However, if you do them over
and over again for a long period of time, your brain will
eventually become focused on that certain part.
Left Brain |
Right Brain |
Uses logic
Detail oriented
Factual
Words and language
Present and Past
Math and science
Can comprehend
Knowing
Acknowledges
Order/ pattern perception
Knows object name
Reality based
Forms strategies
Practical
safe |
Uses feeling
Big picture oriented
Imagination
Symbols and images
Present and future
Philosophy and religion
Cant get it
Believing
Appreciates
Spatial perception
Knows object function
Fantasy based
Presents possibilities
Impetuous
Risk taking |
Some studies show that each side of the brain also controls
different sides of the face during facial expression such
as happiness, disgust etc. These pictures have been cut so
the middle one is the original face, the left had two left
sides, and the right has two right sides. The side that seems
the most different is the side of the brain that dominates
that person. How ever different people will see different
dominances
Another way to tell brain dominance is by the eyes. Each eye
is connected to the opposite side of the brain. Thus the left
eye is connected to the right side of the brain and vice-versa.
Different eyes have different irises.
Another way to figure out brain dominance is the moon on the
thumbs. The moon is wider on the left thumb indicating right
brain dominance.
Along with thumbs, handedness can also show what brain dominance
is over you. However most of us determined our handedness
when we young so our handedness shows what brain dominance
we had when we were young. But looking at your thumbs or eyes
one can see how they have changed over the years. So if you're
right-handed that means when you were young your left brain
dominated you. However this is not always the case in all
people. Most people are left brained because 90 percent of
the world is right handed.
In most people the left brain takes control because logic
reasoning and details often work better with our society then
imagination and artistic talent. Schools focus mostly on subjects
such as math and science instead of art and music. Most jobs
require proficient knowledge in these subjects. Thus it is
easier for most to become left brained.
The Right and Left sides of the brain do not only control
different behaviors but also different functions. In people
the left side of the brain is dominate for language. Most
people with speech impediments have damage to the left side
of the brain. In the Wada Test a fast acting anesthetic (sodium
amytal) is injected into the left brain. Thus the left brain
is put to sleep temporarily. When asked to speak, most people
couldn't.
