Keeping an Eye on Technology Futures, No Hidden Agendas, New Attitudes, No Platitudes!
By the time humans are two years old, one hemisphere begins to dominate the decision-making process. The brain processes continue to improve until the age of about 15. Developing left-brain abilities is the predominant focus in schools and modern society.
Right-brained people are often misfits. In school, right-brained Albert Einstein was thought to be stupid. He would skip steps and couldn't explain his answers because his brain streaked toward the answer so quickly that he lost focus if forced to slow down. Leonardo Da Vinci, the inventor, scientist and artist was so right-brained that he needed to hold a mirror up to read his own mirror-image writing.
The left hemisphere is a "serial processor". It specializes in analytical thought and is responsible for dealing with "hard" facts such as structure, discipline, rules, time sequences, mathematics, categorizing, logic, rationality, and deductive reasoning. It is also responsible for details, knowledge, definitions, planning, goals, words, productivity, efficiency, science, technology, stability and physical activity. It mostly controls the right side of the body.
The right hemisphere is a "parallel processor" and specializes in "softer" aspects - intuition, feelings, sensitivity, emotions, daydreaming, visualizing, creativity, color, spatial awareness, first impressions. It is also responsible for rhythm, spontaneity, impulsiveness, physical senses, risk-taking, flexibility and variety, learning by experience, relationships, mysticism, play and sports, humor, motor skills. It mostly controls the left side of the body. So, the old belief that left-handed people are more creative does indeed have some scientific basis.
Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor has been studying brain functions for some years, and had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for. One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. She felt her left-brain functions slip away one by one - speech, movement, understanding. She studied and remembered every moment. Follow the video link (below) to watch her powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another.
A Brain-Type Test can determine which half of your brain is dominant, and to what degree. The test has 54 questions and can be done in about 10 minutes. Find out whether YOU are left- or right-brained.
The interesting point is that you can work to develop the non-dominant side of your brain, to help "balance" yourself. Take the test.
