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Functional Differences in the Cerebral Hemispheres

The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that separates humans from other mammals. It is divided into left and right hemispheres and connected by the corpus collosum, a bundle of 200 million nerve fibers that transmits data between the two. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice versa. Brain lateralization is using both sides of the brain in concert, using the strengths of each, depending on the task.
  1. Left Brain Specialties

    • Left brain dominant people are strong analytical thinkers. The left brain deals with logic, reason and categorization, allowing these thinkers to more easily acquire skills in language and math. Those with a strong left brain also excel at remembering details, acquiring knowledge on technical subjects, setting and meeting goals. Left brained people are typically extroverted, express more positive emotions, show higher levels of dopamine and excel in physical activity.

    Right Brain Specialties

    • The right hemisphere of the brain specializes in intuition, creativity and humor. It interprets information in holistic ways, allowing it to identify larger patterns. Right brain dominant thinkers are often great brain-stormers, and can more easily identify metaphors than left brain counterparts. These thinkers can read and express emotions more easily than left brain thinkers, though the right brain is more focused on negative emotions. A specialty of the right brain is identifying the position of objects in space, or spatial awareness, allowing many right dominant people to excel in art.

    Left Brain Processing

    • The left brain processes information in a linear, sequential and logical fashion, identifying parts or segments in succession before putting together the whole. Left brain dominant thinkers take satisfaction in checking off lists of information and are pinpoint direction followers. Understanding and identifying symbols is also a left brain process, as well as language mechanics and construction. Left brain dominant thinkers use more reality based processing, allowing the person to adapt to real situations, as opposed to attempting to change the environment like right brain thinkers.

    Right Brain Processing

    • The right brain processes information whole first, attempting to fill in the details after the major concept is understood. It also uses a random approach. Right brain dominant thinkers often stray from task to task and display higher rates of learning in a hands-on environment. The right brain processes information in a pattern matching, intuitive matter. Learning from personal experience is also a processing strength for right brain thinkers.

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