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Oct 20, 2023 · The left brain is associated with logic, analytical thinking, and language processing, while the right brain is linked with creativity, intuition, and holistic thinking. However, this is an oversimplification, as both hemispheres cooperate in most activities.
- Brain Lateralization
Hemispheric lateralization is the idea that each hemisphere...
- Brain Lateralization
- Overview
- The left brain vs. right brain myth
- What does the research say about the left brain vs. right brain myth?
- Tips for keeping your brain sharp
- Frequently asked questions
- Takeaway
The brain is divided into two halves, the right and left brain. Specific areas are responsible for different functions, but the brain works as a whole.
The human brain is an intricate organ. At approximately 2% of your body weight, it contains about 85–100 billion neurons and trillions of connections. Your brain is the command center for how you think and feel, and what you do.
Your brain is divided into two halves. These two sides look very much alike, but there’s a difference in how they process information. Within each half, particular regions manage certain functions.
There’s a myth that suggests some people are left-brained, while others are right-brained. This myth assumes that a person’s motor, cognitive, and behavioral functions stem from the side of the brain that’s most dominant.
It’s estimated that 68% of the general population in the United States support neuromyths, including this one.
However, despite their contrasting styles, the two halves of your brain are connected by brain fibers and work together.
The theory that you’re either left-brained or right-brained suggests that one side of your brain is more dominant.
This theory is based on the fact that the brain’s two hemispheres function differently. This first came to light in the 1960s, thanks to the research of psychobiologist and Nobel Prize winner, Roger W. Sperry.
According to Sperry’s dated research, the left brain and right sides of your brain help you with the following:
This suggests that the left brain is more verbal, analytical, and orderly than the right brain. It’s sometimes called the digital brain because it’s better at things like reading, writing, and computations.
On the other hand, the right brain is more visual, intuitive, and creative.
So, if you’re mostly analytical and methodical in your thinking, the theory suggests you’re left-brained. If you tend to be more creative or artistic, you’re right-brained.
A team of neuroscientists set out to test the left brain vs. right brain hypothesis.
In a 2013 review, they found no proof that this theory is correct. Magnetic resonance imaging of 1,000 people revealed that the human brain doesn’t favor one side over the other, nor are the networks on one side stronger than on the other.
Bundles of nerve fibers tie the two hemispheres together, creating an information highway. The two sides function differently, but they work together and complement each other. You don’t use only one side of your brain at a time.
For example, the left brain has traditionally been associated with handling mathematical equations. However, a 2023 review suggests that the right hemisphere helps with:
•spatial awareness during complicated calculations
•understanding numbers that contain zeros
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, keeping your brain and body active may have short- and long-term benefits for brain health. Here are some tips to help keep your brain sharp.
•Thinking exercises: Some brain-thinking exercises may help improve and maintain cognitive function. These may include playing a puzzle, reading, trying a new skill, or playing memory games, among others.
•Physical activity: A 2022 review suggests that aerobic exercise may help episodic memory among adults ages 55 years and older who have a dementia diagnosis.
•Diet: Nutrition plays a key role in keeping your brain healthy. Some healthy beverages and foods for your brain may include coffee, whole grains, fresh vegetables, nuts, fatty fish, and poultry.
•Sleep: According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, sleep is vital for your brain to help neurons communicate with each other, remove toxin buildup, and improve your memory.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also suggests the following tips to help maintain brain health:
What is it like to be right-brained?
Some people say that if you’re right-brained, you’re more creative, artistic, and intuitive. Each side of the brain is responsible for different functions, but research suggests there are no “left-brained” or “right-brained” people. That said, some people are stronger in right- or left-brain functions.
What is the difference between the right and left side of the brain?
The anatomy of the brain is complex. When people think of the left and right sides of the brain, they think of the two hemispheres that make up the cerebrum. The cerebrum controls many functions, such as your senses, vision, memory, cognition, and hearing. The left side of the cerebrum is associated with speech and processing language, while the right is associated with nonverbal memory and spatial awareness.
What is left-brain thinking?
Left-brain thinking refers to people who may be more analytical, calculated, and orderly.
Whether you work out a complicated algebraic equation or paint an abstract work of art, both sides of your brain actively participate and provide input.
No one is truly left-brained or right-brained, but you can play to your strengths and continue broadening your mental horizons.
A typical, healthy brain is capable of lifelong learning and boundless creativity, especially when it gets fuel from proper nutrition, a dose of physical exercise, and mental stimulation.
Read this article in Spanish.
- Ann Pietrangelo
Oct 28, 2024 · Your left brain controls logic and reason, while the right brain regulates senses and memory. Both sides of your brain are necessary for tasks.
Nov 22, 2023 · The right side of the brain is responsible for image processing, spatial thinking, and movement in the left side of the body. The left and right sides of the brain connect via nerve fibers.
Feb 2, 2023 · The left side of the brain typically controls speech and language. How do you know if you're left brained or right brained? There are personality tests and evaluations to test for right-brain or left-brain dominance.
May 18, 2023 · The left hemisphere of your brain is typically the nexus of the more logical and bookish functions of your brain. Interestingly, the left hemisphere of your brain controls the right side of your body.
People also ask
What does the left side of the brain do?
What are the left and right sides of the brain?
How does the left and right brain work together?
What is the difference between left and right brain?
Which side of the brain is responsible for different functions?
May 9, 2023 · The left hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body and is generally associated with logical reasoning, language processing, and analytical thinking. It’s also considered the dominant hemisphere for most people, meaning that it’s more active and efficient than the right side in certain tasks.
