Psychology

Charles E. Hill

Chapters 1-2

Left-Brain/ Right-Brain

Page 75

It has been said that we as human beings are either a left-brain or right-brain thinkers. This is referred to as” brain dominance,”. Meaning that an individual has a natural for processing information on one side of the brain. Although we know the brain is a very complex part of our body the brain is divided down the middle into two hemispheres. Some people after they have had a stroke or tramatic head injuries may effect either the left or right side of his or her brain. For some reason our left and right hemispheres control the opposite side of our bodies.

According to the left-brain/right-brain theory it says that a person who is “left-brained” dominant are found to be logical, analytical, and objective. As for the “right-brained” they are more intuitive, thoughtful and subjective. The left-brain/ right/brain theory was originated in the work of Roger W. Sperry, who was awarded the Noble Prize in 1981. Sperry discovered that cutting the corpus callosum could reduce or eliminate seizures. Although these patients also experienced other symptoms after the communication pathway between the two sides of the brain was cut. Today neuroscientists know that the two sides of the brain work together to perform a wide variety of tasks and they work together through the corpus callosum. In the world of psychology the theory is based on the lateralization of brain function. In some cases they test only one side of the brain with a rare type of surgery called the “split-brain” operation the corpus callosum is cut to control severe epilepsy. After surgery, it is possible to send information to one hemisphere or the other. After the right and left hemisphere are separated each hemisphere will have its own separate perceptions, concepts, and impluses to act. The left hemisphere is found to...