Left brain vs right brain, is the myth true?

In the 1960s, a significant discovery was made about the brain's hemispheres. You glimpse at the top of the large piece of paper. Breaking news: Roger Sperry discovers that the right and left parts of the brain do different things for the body. At the time, this discovery became famous and sparked curiosity among people as they started to believe this. But is this true? Later, scientists figured out that this research was misinterpreted.This post will explore why the interpretation of Sperry's discovery as a strict left-brain/right-brain dichotomy is inaccurate.

Understanding the Myth

This myth originated from Roger Sperry in the 1960s, claiming that the left brain is logical, analytical, and math-oriented while the right brain is creative, emotional, and artsy. However, this research's outcome was oversimplified and false. In reality, brain function is more complex and balanced.

The Brain's Structure

The brain is made up of 2 hemispheres, left and right, which are connected by the corpus callosum, a thick band of nerve fibers that enables both sides to communicate. Each hemisphere controls opposite sides of the body; the left hemisphere controls the right part of the body, and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body.

Hemisphere Specialization

It is important to note that while some functions are more dominant in one hemisphere, they are not exclusively controlled by it. The left hemisphere controls language production (Broca’s area), language understanding (Wernicke’s area), logic, math, and sequencing, while the right hemisphere controls spatial awareness, facial recognition, emotional tone, expression, and artistic perception. However, almost every major task involves both hemispheres.

Real-World Brain Coordination

Real-world brain coordination can be observed in everyday activities that involve both hemispheres working together. For example, reading a story requires the left side of the brain to decode words and grammar and the right side to interpret tone, emotion, and imagery. Similarly, playing music uses the left side to handle rhythm and the right side to handle the melody. A math problem requires the left side to process numbers and steps, while the right side helps visualize geometry or patterns. There are many more scenarios of this, as almost everything we do involves both sides of the brain playing a role.

The Myth

You might wonder how scientists have so much information about this.

Well, studies like functional MRI show activity in both hemispheres during almost any task, which conveys the cooperation between both sides. In addition, research on split-brain patients (those with a severed corpus callosum) has helped scientists understand how the sides cooperate.

The brain might be a small part of our body, but its role is incredibly important. All of our thinking occurs in the brain. Whether writing an essay about your hobbies or solving a math problem, your brain enables all these tasks. From this post, we can learn that no one can be strictly left-brained or right-brained. Almost every task we do uses both sides of the brain working together like a team. So the next time someone says they're "right-brained" or "left-brained," you can confidently tell them that it's just a myth. The whole brain is always in action.