Found in many pop culture quizzes and character references, the terms right-brain and left-brain communication leave people thinking that they have more dominant tendencies based on brain activity. While both hemispheres operate different functions of the cognitive mind, the belief that one may over-power the other is more of a myth than scientific fact. Let’s explore why this idea became so common and misinterpreted.
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The Theory Explained
According to the right-brain, left-brain theory, one side is more active thus creating a certain type of personality. The myth states that a left-brain personality possesses logical thinking while right-brain people think creatively. This way of thinking is usually used as a way to structure learning techniques or define potential career options. A left-brain thinker may be categorized as “book smart,” which means they have a talent for math, critical and analytical thinking, and language development. On the other side of the spectrum lies a right-brain communicator who uses intuition, emotion, and imagination to thrive. These two personality types have different ways of communicating, learning, and expressing themselves.
While right-brain and left-brain thinking seems logical, it is purely based off of the fact that the brain is divided into two hemispheres. According to VeryWellMind.com, both function in collaboration with one another using the corpus callosum. It is true that the two parts of the brain contain separate functions and operate the opposing side of the body, but one side does not overpower the other.
Origin Of The Theory
The theory originated out of an experiment where the communication hub of the right and left brain was disconnected. In this case, the cause of the disconnect was due to epilepsy in a study conducted by Roger W. Sperry in 1981. He found that a seizure could halt the communication between the hemispheres, leaving one without the ability to process images and relay them through speech. The result led him to hypothesize that language formation existed purely in the left hemisphere while the ability to recognize images lies in the right.
Debunking The Theory
While the 1981 experiment proves that the two hemispheres control various parts of cognition, it did not prove that one side could be stronger. Instead, it merely showed how the collaboration between both was necessary to generate normal communication skills. A later study done by PLOS ONE Journal revealed that while activity may be increased on either side of the brain during certain events, it does not indicate that one side is more dominant. In fact, one side needs the other to function, so it is actually the strength of communication that heightens one’s performance.
The need to define our strengths and weaknesses is a natural instinct to determine better ways to learn by processing information. The concept of right-brain and left-brain communication is an interesting method to ponder as people like to classify their personalities, but this should be strictly used for amusement rather than scientific practice.