The Internet contains a vast amount of information that can be a wonderful source to turn to when trying to understand new concepts. However, you have to be cautious about believing everything you see, for much of it can be misleading and inaccurate. Furthermore, ideas can be taken out of context and represented in a way that is flashy and eye-catching, but not scientifically truthful. This certainly applies to the idea of left-brain vs. right-brain dominance as is illustrated by the photo below, which attempts to explain the differences between the brain’s left and right side characteristics. However, these differences are not so clear cut and simple as the graphic suggests. Dominance in one hemisphere of the brain does not mean that one doesn’t use their other hemisphere at all. Different sides of the brain do have different specialties, but optimal brain functioning requires the two hemispheres to communicate and work with each other.
A common interpretation of the personalities of the left and right brain.
“Logic, scientist, mathematician”, are the words that describe left-brained people in this image. Not only are these constraining adjectives, but they imply that left-brained people would do best in a STEM career. It also suggests that right-brained people should not go into careers that require skills in math, which is false. The left hemisphere of the brain is associated with listening, reading, and auditory memory. Judges, lawyers, and bankers are often left-brain dominated. People who are left hemisphere-dominated can give directions using street names and mileage. For example, they can say, “Turn down Crenshaw Drive and go 2 miles before turning onto Westhampton Way and North Court Dormitory will be on your left.” Right-hemisphere dominant people use landmarks, such as, “Turn left once you pass the church”. However, everybody uses both sides of their brain, meaning that left-brain dominant people shouldn’t be the only people to pursue careers in science and math.
According to the image, the feeling of sand beneath your bare feet, movement, and laughter are feelings and enjoyments you can only have if you are right-brain dominant. Many researchers and common-folk alike would agree that the left and right brain possess different areas of specialization. For example, language is usually is dominant in the left brain. Perhaps the right brain is much more attuned to other aspects of life, such as creativity and emotion. But that is not all the right side is good for. Research has shown that the right hemisphere contributes to visual imagery, which makes face recognition and spatial processing in the right brain easier for supposedly right brain dominant individuals (Smith, 2012).
As stated above, the image suggests that that being right brained is more fun and colorful than being left brained. For instance, on the right brain side of the image is the phrase, “I feel”. Who wouldn’t want to feel emotions? The image is misleading by insinuating that left brained people are unfeeling, controlling, black and white people. However, research has proven that many processes once thought to only involve one side of the brain actually involve both. For example, the processing of a metaphor, which would go in the right brain side of the above image, actually involves both hemispheres (Beeman & Chiarello, 1998a, 1998b). In reality, no one is completely left brained or right brained. Everyone uses both sides of the brains in everyday life. You can be a creative, logical, free spirited, and practical thinker.
As you can see, there are many aspects of human function that are localized in one hemisphere or the other, however, it is not as simple as the photo above suggests. One cannot function with the use of only one hemisphere. The brain works laterally and communication between the two hemispheres is required. The image above can cause negative stereotypes of people based on a few characteristics of a person’s personality. A person who thinks analytically is not completely left brain dominant and should not be placed into a tight category. Brains are complicated organs that result in the full use of both hemispheres. No one is 100% left brain dominant or 100% right brain dominant, so remember to take what you see on the internet with a grain of salt!
Citations
Smith, E. E. (2012, October 19). Are You Left- or Right-Brain Dominant? Retrieved September 05, 2015, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/not-born-yesterday/201210/are-you-left-or-right-brain-dominant