Brain Lateralization is a complex and ongoing process by which differing regions of the brain “take over” the functioning of specific behaviors and cognitive skills. Lateralization literally means that certain functions are located (in part or total) on one side of the brain. “Right-brained” or “left-brained” is a concept that has been manipulated by the media, it’s not supported by solid science. The myth of a “right-brain” person is generally creative, intuitive, artsy, while a left-brain person is more of a problem-solver, more direct, logical. Somehow the real meaning was lost in translation, so I’ll explain. The brain is divided into two sides, called hemispheres. The left hemisphere is often described as verbal and the right as …show more content…
The left and right hemispheres of the brain are each divided into sections. Within each sections are lobes, controlling such processes as our visualization, our movement, and our personalities. For instance, the occipital lobe in the back of our brain is responsible for processing vision, and the frontal lobe behind our forehead controls cognition and personality. The lobes of the brain are split between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This well-designed arrangement is for the lobes to function correctly, so the two hemispheres of the brain can communicate with one …show more content…
The corpus callosum binds the left and right hemispheres of the brain together, both physically and communicatively. After this operation has been performed, there was a remarkable development with how we perceive things and some of the results showed how much we rely on the connection between the two halves of our brain. There are also advantages of having a split brain. A study performed by Rogers et al, 2004 found that when you have two halves of a brain then it increases your ability to both look for food and watch for predators at the same time. Possibly demonstrating that the connections between our ancestors’ brain hemispheres were less developed. Another advantage is having the ability to read two pages at once. Of course, there are more disadvantages than advantages of having a split brain. An example of one is the most famous split brain study of all time, Sperry, 1968. In this study each participant, all having two halves of a brain, was shown two different images. One in each visual field and when asked to draw the image they had just seen they would draw the image they saw on the left but they would describe it as the image they saw on the right. This shows that the left side of the brain, which controls the right visual field, contains the information to be able to describe an object when seen
Although the brain only weighs about three pounds, it is a very powerful and essential organ in the body (Brain Structures and Their Functions). The cerebrum, cerebellum, and the brain stem are the three main parts of the brain. The cerebrum fills up most of the skull, its main functions are for remembering, problem solving, thinking, and feeling (Bellamy 23). It also controls movement throughout the body. The cerebellum is located towards the back of the head. It controls mostly just coordination and balance (Brain Structures and Their Functions). The brain stem is underneath the cerebrum and in front of your cerebellum. It attaches the brain to the spinal cord and controls functions like breathing, digestion, heart rate and blood pressure (Carter 12). The brain is also divided into halves. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, while the right side of the brain, controls the left side of the body (Bellamy 17).
Some do not believe that we have a left and right brain. However, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The Future by Daniel H. Pink explains that the left and right hemispheres of the brain control different abilities. I have learned from this book how society and the economy have shifted from the “Information Age” to a “Conceptual Age,” how the arguments of left brain theorists (L- directed) differ from those of right brain theorists (R-directed), the three A’s of abundance, automation, and Asia, and the six essential aptitudes or “six senses” of Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning.
Can one be considered left-brained or right-brained? Recent findings prove that no, one cannot. Before doing research on this topic, a person may think they are one or the other however it seems that that may not be accurate any longer. Although the left-brain, right-brain theory is a popular theory in the classroom, recent research just may have proved the theory wrong.
First, Let us explore on the functions of each hemisphere of the brain and how it works. The left hemisphere is associated with being logical. The right hemisphere of the brain is related with being emotional. The majority of the population is known to be right handed; therefore, the left side of the brain is controlling the right side of the body. The human brain is a very complex organ. The communication between these two hemispheres is accomplished by a series of electrical and chemical signals between neurons; the electrical process communicates through the movement from four ions: sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride. On the other hand, the chemical communication process contains chemical messengers such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and acetylcholine, just to name a few (Wolfe, 2010). After reviewing some basic points in the transmission of communication between neurons, let us focus on learning and the brain.
Nowadays, it is widely known that the right and left hemisphere have different functions. The two hemispheres are equally important in a daily life basis. Nevertheless, in the 1960’s this was not common knowledge. Even though today the importance of the brain hemispheres is common knowledge, people don’t usually know to whom attribute this findings. One of the people who contributed to form a more defined picture about the brain hemispheres and their respective functions was Roger Wolcott Sperry, with the split brain research. Roger Sperry did more contributions than the split brain research, but this is his most important and revolutionary research in the psychological field. Thanks to the split brain research, Sperry proved that the two hemispheres of the brain are important, they work together and whatever side of the brain is more capable of doing the task is the hemisphere that takes the lead.
After a split brain procedure, the patient’s brain would adapt to the right and left hemispheres working independently. The patient now has two independent streams of consciousness. For example, if a split-brain patient is shown an image on the left side of their visual field they would not be able to name the image that was shown to them. This is because anything in the left field is sent to the right hemisphere of the brain. Speech is controlled in the left hemisphere of the brain. If the two hemispheres are no longer connected there is no way for the left hemisphere to know what information is being sent to the right hemisphere, so the patient would not be able to communicate what they are seeing. The previous stated example and Split-brain research in general also proves cortical lateralization because each side of the brain specializes in different tasks. The right and left brain hemispheres each have its own dominant
The left and right hemispheres of the brain are each divided into sections. Within each sections are lobes, controlling such processes as our visualization, our movement, and our personalities. For instance, the occipital lobe in the back of our brain is responsible for processing vision, and the frontal lobe behind our forehead controls cognition and personality. The lobes of the brain are split between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This well-designed arrangement is for the lobes to function correctly, so the two hemispheres of the brain can communicate with one
Before attempting to understand this question and to answer it justifiably one should make clear what brain lateralization and localization is and what are the differences between them. Localization refers to the specific area of the brain that is responsible for a specific function. For example people who suffer from Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia, are prime examples of disorders which are the result of damage to a localized area (known as Broca's area and Wernicke's area) which leads to different types of aphasia. Lateralization refers to the differences between right hemisphere and left hemisphere brain functioning.
Brain. (2010, September 25) .Left brain, right brain: One brain, two brains. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2013, from http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/09/24/brain.awq255.full
The frontal lobe is a significant factor to the the brain. For example, this lobe focuses on decision making, problem solving, consciousness, and emotions. The frontal lobe is also known as the movement center. The forebrain makes the frontal lobe, which is the frontal section of the brain. And the frontal lobe is made up of the left hemisphere and right hemisphere. In the left hemisphere lies the speech area. Damage to this area ...
The human brain is divided in two different symmetrical parts, the hemispheres, which are connected by the corpus callosum – this connection enables us to engage in higher cognitive processes (Rogers, Zucca & Vallortigara, 2004). Evolution provided us with the capacity to benefit from lateralization, allowing us to perform well while involved in two completely different tasks simultaneously. Furthermore, the plasticity of the brain makes it easy to thrive in extreme situations, such as having the two hemispheres disconnected or even having one hemisphere removed. In such cases the nervous tissue will adapt itself and reach its maximum potential, so that the person can survive and retain consciousness. This ability is more pronounced in children,
both hemispheres of the brain are active but that the left hemisphere may be more active.
The textbook mentioned how it is possible to live with one side of the brain (Lilienfeld et al., 2016). However, I was still a bit confused on this concept because I have always thought that you need both hemispheres working together to function properly. As I watched the TedTalk, I was further able to change my understanding of the concept that you can live with one hemisphere, you would just lose some functions associated with that hemisphere, as Jill explained (Taylor, 2008). Not only that, but from the textbook I never understood how you would feel without one of your hemispheres not functioning properly, I personally thought that you would lose some abilities and it would be difficult to survive. However, the TedTalk changed this understanding of mine because, like Jill, although she lost some functions, she lost all her stresses, and she felt peace, as she states, “So here I am in this space, and my job, and any stress related to my job - it was gone. And I felt lighter in my body. And imagine all of the relationships in the external world and any stressors related to any of those - they were gone. And I felt this sense of peacefulness” (Taylor, 2008). It gave her a whole new world and it never occurred to me that this could happen, so it really expanded on the knowledge obtained from the
The cerebrum consists of two hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure called the Corpus Callosum, the hemispheres are divided into four lobes; the frontal, partials, occipital and temporal.
In the video "Powerful Stoke of Insight," Dr. Taylor share a personal story of how she experienced when she had a stoke years ago. She vividly illustrated the distinct functions of left hemisphere and right hemisphere. Since her stoke occurred in the left hemisphere, she had a hard time to process language during the tragic event happened. She was paralysis and could not understand any of the word from 911 telephone operator when she finally reached the phone. According to Dr. Taylor, "Our right human hemisphere is all about this present moment, [and] our left hemisphere thinks linearly and methodically." Due to the reason that her stoke damaged her left hemisphere, she could not think logically at the moment. This presentation thoroughly explain the concept of lateralization in biological psychology research method. I find it very interesting because I never learn that each hemisphere do in charge of different functions that affecting our