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Lateralization

Page history last edited by Candace Driskell 10 years, 4 months ago

 

Lateralization

 

 

 

 

      There has been a tremendous amount of research on human brain lateralization. Brain lateralization is the localization of a function to the left and the right hemispheres of the brain. The two separate hemispheres are not the same as they have different functions and both are specialized to perform different cognitive tasks and behaviors that are lateralized in the brain. However, although separate, both hemispheres are able to function properly with each other through neural fibers called the corpus callosum.

     The left hemisphere of the brain is the logical control center of the brain in which it controls most of the language processing and speech perception that is received and processed. This hemisphere controls the right side of the body. The left hemisphere is also responsible for the understanding of cause-and-effect relationships and is the hemisphere that is most activated whenever we read. This side handles more basic tasks like hand control and common routine tasks. Because this hemisphere handles the more common everyday tasks and controls the right hand, this is one reason why many people are right-handed. The left hemisphere is more dominant in mathematics, calculations, and language.

     The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body. The right portion of the brain is known to be the creative portion of the brain in which it controls the emotional aspects of the brain in which we are able to understand the emotional undertones of a message as well as being responsible for the more complex abstract language tasks. The right hemisphere also responds more quickly to danger and controls our left hand, which has been said to be the hand we are more probable to use when in danger. Also, the right hemisphere is dominant for face recognition, music and artistic creativity, and spatial abilities.

     While it has been commonly known that certain cognitive tasks are specialized in certain hemispheres, this is relatively untrue as both hemispheres are often used for the majority of actions that are being performed. While both of these hemispheres are often thought of as being specialized at certain tasks, they are both still capable of performing mental tasks that are usually specialized in one particular hemisphere. Both hemispheres are necessary for normal use of language and abilities. Also, while it is also true that a certain hemisphere is often activated when performing certain tasks, both hemispheres are usually activated in some way although it might not be as much as the other. No one is completely left-brained or right-brained but people have a dominance of left-brain and right-brain characteristics, we just need and use both sides in order to navigate and function properly. 

 

 

 

         Related Links and Videos:

 

          A study into the theory of brain lateralization and its implications.

         http://www.singsurf.org/brain/rightbrain.php  

 

Summary of research about right brain, left brain roles in teaching and learning.

https://eee.uci.edu/news/articles/0505brain.php

 

Summary of the right hemisphere's ability to process emotions.

http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n14/mente/lateralization.htm

 

Video of the right brain, left brain theory and why it is a myth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju3FoDXAkX8

 

The theoretical effects that our handedness have on our hemispheres.

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/01/brain.aspx

 

An explanation of how aphasia is caused by damage to the right hemisphere.

http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_10/d_10_cr/d_10_cr_lan/d_10_cr_lan.html

 

A small summary on how the brain continues to process language when inflicted with aphasia.

http://www.brainfacts.org/sensing-thinking-behaving/language/articles/2012/language-an-overview/

 

A study of how the size of one's corpus callossum can decide the amount of activation for each hemisphere during semantic task and word processing.

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/52/14132.full.pdf 

 

A summary of the effects that a stroke has on the brain.

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/stroke/hic_stroke_and_the_brain.aspx 

 

An explanation of what handedness has to do with brain lateralization.

http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/brain.html 

 

Summary of the dominance of lateralization and split-brain experiment.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/split.html

 

Summary of lateralization of language functions in the brain.

http://course.sol.lu.se/FON218/Postrar_neurolingvistik_VT07/Frida_Maartensson.pdf

 

          Summary of right hemisphere brain damage.

          http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/RightBrainDamage.htm 

 

          Article of what's factual and what's fictional of the left and right brain.

          http://www.societyforqualityeducation.org/newsletter/archives/left.pdf

 

          Article explaining the effects of not having both brain hemispheres.

          http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2004/06/24/2856996.htm

 

This page was developed by Candace Driskell.

 

 

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