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Tiffany McCutcheon

Psychology
Ring 6
9/21/15
Left Brained or Right Brained?
It is a common misconception that the left brain and the right brain work independently.
Some people believe they are right brain dominant or left brain dominant, but what many do not
realize is neither hemisphere is dominant, and the hemispheres are actually constantly working
together. Throughout the years of psychological development, scientists have discovered certain
tasks are controlled more by a certain hemisphere. Being artistic does not mean that indicate
right brain dominance, it actually indicates something totally different. Any task a person does
that he/she consider artistic requires both the left and the right brain. Doing math and thinking
mathematically does not indicate left brainedness. Recently, it has been determined that the left
and right hemispheres do not work totally independently. The hemispheres have to work together
in order to function properly and efficiently.
Upon investigation, all of the studies used to test left or right brainedness use the same
format. They give a group of people a task and then they monitor their brain before, during, and
after they complete the task. In a majority of studies focused on the brains hemispheres, the
scientists looked at tasks that required Visuospatial talent (VST). A study conducted at George
Mason University suggested visuospatial talent contains multiple skills. Some of these skills
include thinking in image, mentally manipulating images, and thinking holistically. Older studies
indicated that these skills take place mainly in the right hemisphere (Kalbfleisch). This continues
to be the dominant theory on the brains hemispheres. Despite the fact that recent studies have
shown VST takes place in both hemisphere of the brain and some studies indicate that it may
take place predominantly in the left-brain (Kalbfleisch).
Over the last seven, years a series of case studies were conducted to carefully map the
visuospatial functions of the brain and where they take place. These studies indicated that VST
isnt actually right brain dominance. VST was split into three categories: mental rotation, pattern
recognition, and spatial navigation. Mental rotation is the ability to recognize an object if the
orientation or the angle of the object has changed (Kalbfleisch). This idea is the cornerstone of
VST and it is still undecided as to whether it takes place predominantly in the left-brain or the
right-brain. The most recent study indicates it takes place in both hemispheres, but does not

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require bilateralization of the hemispheres. Bilateralization is the cooperation of the two


hemispheres. Pattern recognition is described as the ability to perceive complex spatial patterns
and comprehend imaginary movements in space. Recent studies have shown that this particular
skill is not dominant in one hemisphere. In fact, it does require the hemispheres to work together
bilaterally (Kalbfleisch). Finally, spatial navigation is a seemingly basic skill, the ability to find
ones way in the world. This skill actually very complex and requires many perceptions. Since it
relies on so many perceptions and the compilation of many tiny decisions that many dont realize
that they even make, it requires the whole brain. This study disproves older studies that suggest
the this skill takes place in the right hemisphere only (Kalbfleisch).
Studies like this have opened the door to other research. The interactions of the brain is a
complex system of messages. Each brain function requires thousands of messages. Basic life
function requires the cooperation of many different parts of the brain. Another study indicates
the right brain is more likely to work with the left brain, than the left brain is to cooperate with
the right brain (Grotts). With this in mind, it also showed that right brain functions has longer
delays, since it requires so much lateralization of the brain. The left brain has shorter conduction
delays, since it requires less lateralization (Grotts).
Many of the older studies suffered from lack of technological advancements. As time
progresses and technology advances, scientists have begun to carefully and specifically map the
functions of the brain. One study chose four major clusters of the brain to analyze and determine
their function. Cluster one is completely within the left hemisphere. This cluster controlled
classic speech function, social communication and interpretation. The second cluster also is
completely within the left hemisphere. This cluster controlled basic function, such as moving
arms and hands, and controlling the mouth. This study indicates these functions take place close
together within the brain and only require tight lateralization.
The next two clusters are slightly different from the first two. The third cluster contains
the medial occipital region. The fourth cluster contains the higher-level occipital, ventral
temporal, and superior parietal areas. Both of these clusters control VST. The degree of
lateralization is larger in these clusters, but they still work independently from the left
hemisphere. Upon further investigation it was determined that despite the fact that the
lateralization is contained for the most part within each hemisphere, there is still a degree of
bilateral cooperation that is required in order to complete tasks with efficiency (Grotts).

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While recent studies show the hemispheres of the brain work independently, This theory
is not completely accurate because everything we do as humans require the functions of many
different areas of the brain. For instance, Grotts study attributes social communication to the left
hemisphere and mental rotation is attributed to the right hemisphere, but if one person is talking
face to face with another both of them are probably moving around and moving their hand
around. To identify and interpret these changes requires mental rotation which is a VST.
Therefore, in order to completely understand and follow the conversation at hand one must use
both his/her left and his/her right hemispheres.
In a 2005 study an fMRI was used to map the functions of the brain, while individuals
completed tasks. The tasks each individual was asked to do was meant to target the specific
hemisphere of the brain. Even though these tasks targeted the specific hemispheres like the other
tests, but this test was different. The other studies were conducted while only stimulating certain
areas of the brain. This study was conducted while the subjects were actually taking part in these
activities. This caused the results to differ from what had been widely known.
This is corroborates the idea that despite the fact that each specific, and individual function
require little lateralization, in order to competently complete the basic tasks at hand the
hemispheres of the brain had to work together (Foel).
Even with all of these impressive technological advancement our knowledge on the parts
of the brain and their distinct functions. Scientists can look at the brain through many different
ways and lenses, but still there are many struggles scientists face. It is hard to get a complete
picture of how the brain works, while were are acting as we do in our everyday lives.
Psychologist Evan Heit theorized that taking a mathematical and neurological approach to
looking at the brain. He believes that this will allow scientist to better test the theories that are
currently accepted in the field. With this comes the fear that this might make scientists take leaps
in their data and ultimately cause more generalized theories within the field. This fear is causing
some hesitation from fellow scientists.
In conclusion, left-brainedness and right-brainedness is only a misconception within
among people. Certain characteristics do not indicate that an individuals brain is dominated by a
certain hemisphere. In fact, no hemisphere is completely dominant. The left-brain or the rightbrain may be dominant while conducting certain tasks, but that does not mean that it is overall
dominant. In order to competently do any basic task it requires the bilateral cooperation of both

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hemispheres. Pattern recognition is actually a right brain function , but that it is a major
component to math. As science develops does the understanding of the complex nature of the
brain.
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Works cited
Foel A, Jansen A, Deppe M, Kanowski M, Konrad C. et al. Atypical hemispheric
dominance for attention: functional MRI topography. Sept. 2005. PubMed, web. 19
Sept. 2015
Gotts, Stephen J. et al. Two Distinct Forms of Functional Lateralization in the Human
Brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America 110.36 (2013): E3435E3444. PMC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.
Heit, Evan. Brain Imaging, Forward Inference, and Theories of Reasoning. Frontiers in
Human Neuroscience 8 (2014): 1056. PMC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.

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Kalbfleisch, M. Layne, and Charles Gillmarten. "Left Brain Vs. Right Brain: Findings On
Visual Spatial Capacities And The Functional Neurology Of Giftedness." Roeper Review
35.4 (2013): 265-275. Professional Development Collection. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.
Vendetti, Michael S. et al. Hemispheric Differences in Relational Reasoning: Novel
Insights Based on an Old Technique. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience9 (2015):
55. PMC. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.

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