Debunking the Myth of the Left-Brain/Right-Brain Dominance 🧠
Debunking the Myth of the Left-Brain/Right-Brain Dominance 🧠
Moving Beyond the Myth: A More Accurate Understanding of the Brain (7min Read)
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TL;DR Summary:
Myth: Left-brain logic, right-brain creativity
Origins: Dr. Sperry's split-brain research in the 1980s
Media's role: Fueling the fire
The truth: Hemispheres harmonize
Tools to unleash your whole-brain potential
Lateral Thinking Puzzle
Embrace whole-brain thinking: Unlock a fulfilling, purposeful life!
Picture This…
You're at a party, and someone asks you whether you're more left-brained or right-brained.
I don’t know about you, but I get asked this a lot actually…
It's a question rooted in the popular belief that one side of our brain is more dominant than the other, which supposedly influences our personality, skills, and cognitive abilities.
According to the myth, left-brained individuals are logical, analytical, and excel in mathematics and language.
While right-brained individuals are creative, intuitive, and have a knack for arts and music.
But is there any truth or science behind this widely accepted notion?
Let's dive into the science to debunk this myth and explore how our brains really function.
The Origin of the Left-Brain/Right-Brain Myth
The left-brain/right-brain myth can be traced back to the work of neuropsychologist Roger W. Sperry, who won the Nobel Prize in 1981 for his research on split-brain patients.
These patients had their corpus callosum – the bundle of neural fibers connecting the two hemispheres – severed to alleviate severe epilepsy.
Dr. Sperry discovered that when the connection between the two hemispheres was disrupted, each side of the brain operated independently, processing information and controlling different functions.
This groundbreaking research led to the idea that each hemisphere might have specialized abilities.
However, Sperry's findings were taken out of context and overgeneralized, giving birth to the left-brain/right-brain myth that endures to this day.
The Oversimplification of Sperry's Findings (and Science in General…)
The leap from his work with split-brain patients to the popular myth was the result of an oversimplification and misinterpretation of the scientific findings.
It is important to remember that Sperry's research focused on a unique population with a specific medical condition, split-brain patients and it is not appropriate to extrapolate these findings to the general population without further investigation.
The Media & the Myth
The media played a significant role in the spread of this myth.
Articles, books, and self-help materials emerged, claiming that understanding one's “dominant hemisphere” could unlock untapped potential and lead to personal and professional success.
These resources often lacked a strong scientific foundation, instead relying on anecdotal evidence and overgeneralizations to support their claims.
This is honestly part of the reason I write this blog… It feels like my responsibility to debunk harmful “self-help” tactics that have no science behind them…
That being said, modern neuroscience has come a long way since the 1960s, and we now have a more accurate understanding of how our brains function.
What Research Actually Supports
For example, research published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences explored the dynamic audio-motor system in pianists.
This group is often considered to be "right-brained" due to their musical and artistic abilities.
However, the study demonstrated that the act of playing the piano engages both hemispheres of the brain in a highly coordinated manner.
The left hemisphere is involved in processing the musical structure and controlling fine motor movements, while the right hemisphere contributes to emotional expression and spatial processing.
Hemispheric Collaboration: How Your Brain Really Works
Modern research like this has shown that our brains are not as divided as the left-brain/right-brain myth suggests.
In reality, the two hemispheres of the brain work together in a highly integrated manner to process information and execute tasks.
Although it's true that each hemisphere has some specialized functions – for example, the left hemisphere is typically involved in language processing.
While the right hemisphere plays a role in spatial awareness – these specializations are not as rigid or exclusive as the myth implies.
Painting Isn’t a "Right Brain” Activity?
Let's consider the act of painting a beautiful landscape, which might be considered a right-brained activity according to this myth.
In reality, both hemispheres of the brain are actively engaged in this creative process.
The right hemisphere contributes to the artist's ability to visualize the scene and determine the composition and color palette.
Simultaneously, the left hemisphere is responsible for planning the sequence of brushstrokes, calculating the proportions, and even recalling the names of colors and techniques.
Math Isn’t a "Left Brain” Activity?
Similarly, when solving a complex mathematical problem – a task typically attributed to the left brain – both hemispheres are at work as well.
While the left hemisphere handles the logical and analytical aspects of the problem, the right hemisphere helps visualize the problem, identify patterns, and formulate alternative approaches.
As you can see our brains function more like a cohesive orchestra, with each hemisphere playing its part, rather than a divided entity with one side dominating the other.
The Power of the Whole Brain
With this evidence in mind, we can pretty conclusively say that this myth is busted.
If you were sold on this idea, I can promise you that embracing the idea that our brains function as a whole, with both hemispheres collaborating in harmony, opens up a world of possibilities for personal growth, creativity, and problem-solving.
If you’re still skeptical, that’s alright, here are some tools you can use to embrace your newfound knowledge!
Harnessing the Power of Your Whole Brain
Now that we've debunked the left-brain/right-brain myth, let's explore some practical ways to harness the power of your whole brain and tap into its full potential.
Engage in Diverse Activities:
One way to encourage whole-brain thinking is to engage in a variety of activities that challenge both your analytical and creative skills.
For instance, you could alternate between solving puzzles and engaging in artistic pursuits, such as painting or playing a musical instrument.
This balanced approach will help you develop a more integrated and flexible mindset.
Cultivate Mindfulness:
Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help you become more aware of your thought patterns and encourage whole-brain thinking.
Mindfulness techniques, such as focused breathing and body scans, can help you develop a more balanced and holistic perspective on your thoughts and emotions.
Embrace Learning Opportunities:
Our brains thrive on novelty and learning new skills.
By constantly seeking out new experiences and educational opportunities, you'll keep both hemispheres of your brain engaged and foster a growth mindset.
Constantly learning has also been shown to reduce your risk of cognitive decline as you age.
Collaborate with Others:
Working with others who have different skill sets and perspectives can help you develop a more integrated approach to problem-solving.
By collaborating and sharing ideas, you'll be better equipped to tap into the full potential of your whole brain.
Practice Lateral Thinking:
Lateral thinking is a problem-solving approach that involves looking at a situation from a new, creative perspective rather than relying solely on traditional, logical methods.
The easiest way to explain this is with an example… See if you can solve the problem below!
The Chicken, Fox & a Bag of Grain Problem…
You have a fox, a chicken, and a bag of grain, and you need to transport all three across a river using a small boat.
However, the boat can only carry you and one of the three items at a time.
You cannot leave the fox alone with the chicken, as the fox will eat the chicken.
Similarly, you cannot leave the chicken alone with the grain, as the chicken will eat the grain. How do you get all three across the river safely?
Traditional, logical thinking might lead you to consider various combinations of transporting the items, but you would quickly find that none of them seem to work without leaving one item vulnerable…
STOP!!! Try to Solve It Without the Answer First.
Lateral Thinking Solution:
Take the chicken across the river and leave it on the other side.
Go back and take the fox across the river.
Take the chicken back with you on the boat to the original side.
Take the bag of grain across the river and leave it with the fox.
Go back across the river and bring the chicken across
There are tons of problems like this that you can find and practice this skill of out-of-the-box thinking otherwise known as lateral thinking!
This will engage both hemispheres of your brain and foster a more flexible and innovative mindset.
The Impact of Whole-Brain Thinking on Your Life
The left-brain/right-brain myth has persisted for decades, but modern neuroscience has revealed the true complexity and interconnectedness of our brain's functioning.
By debunking this myth and embracing the power of whole-brain thinking, we can unlock our full cognitive potential and lead more fulfilling, purpose-driven lives.
Furthermore, by recognizing that both hemispheres of your brain contribute to your abilities and personality, you can develop a more balanced and integrated sense of self.
So, let's celebrate the harmony of our brain's hemispheres and the incredible potential they hold for our growth, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
I hope today’s blog helps you become a myth-buster when it comes to this myth!
And as always, until next time… Live Heroically 🧠
Supporting Research:
Nielsen, J. A., Zielinski, B. A., Ferguson, M. A., Lainhart, J. E., & Anderson, J. S. (2013). An evaluation of the left-brain vs. right-brain hypothesis with resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging. PLoS ONE, 8(8), e71275. Link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0071275
Hellige, J. B. (1993). Hemispheric asymmetry: What's right and what's left. Harvard University Press. Link: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674386002
Corballis, M. C. (1991). The lopsided ape: Evolution of the generative mind. Oxford University Press. Link: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-lopsided-ape-9780195083521
Gazzaniga, M. S. (2000). Cerebral specialization and interhemispheric communication: Does the corpus callosum enable the human condition? Brain, 123(7), 1293-1326. Link: https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/123/7/1293/289604
Springer, S. P., & Deutsch, G. (1998). Left brain, right brain: Perspectives from cognitive neuroscience (5th ed.). W. H. Freeman and Company. Link: https://www.worldcat.org/title/left-brain-right-brain-perspectives-from-cognitive-neuroscience/oclc/37373948
Toga, A. W., & Thompson, P. M. (2003). Mapping brain asymmetry. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 4(1), 37-48. Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn1009
Badzakova-Trajkov, G., Häberling, I. S., & Corballis, M. C. (2011). Magical ideation, creativity, handedness, and cerebral asymmetries: A combined behavioural and fMRI study. Neuropsychologia, 49(10), 2896-2903. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393211003080
Gotts, S. J., Jo, H. J., Wallace, G. L., Saad, Z. S., Cox, R. W., & Martin, A. (2013). Two distinct forms of functional lateralization in the human brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(36), E3435-E3444. Link: https://www.pnas.org/content/110/36/E3435
Jäncke, L. (2012). The dynamic audio-motor system in pianists. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1252(1), 246-252. Link: https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06411.x
Pascual-Leone, A., Amedi, A., Fregni, F., & Merabet, L. B. (2005). The plastic human brain cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 28, 377-401. Link: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144216
Tzourio, N., Crivello, F., Mellet, E., Nkanga-Ngila, B., & Mazoyer, B. (1998). Functional anatomy of dominance for speech comprehension in left-handers vs. right-handers. NeuroImage, 8(1), 1-16. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811981800186
Króliczak, G., Piper, B. J., & Frey, S. H. (2016). Specialization of the left supramarginal gyrus for hand-independent praxis representation is not related to hand dominance. Neuropsychologia, 93(Pt A), 501-512. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393216302072
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