21 August 2008

Left or right brain dominance

By Jim Pinto

The human brain has two hemispheres, left and right, connected at the base. Each hemisphere has unique functions, and the way you use these abilities determines a large part of your personality and behavior.

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 could not 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 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, and 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, and 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.

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.

Most (almost all) engineers a have dominant left-brain. The interesting point is you can work to develop the non-dominant side of your brain, to help “balance” yourself, to stimulate your own creativity and “out-of-the-box” thinking.

Related links:

• Wiki – Lateralization of brain function:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateralization_of_brain_function
• Are You Left-Brained or Right-Brained? Take the test:
   http://www.testcafe.com/lbrb/lbrb.html
• The Right Brain vs. Left Brain – Visual Test:
  http://www.metacafe.com/watch/870136/left_brain_v_right_brain_test/

Behind the byline

Jim Pinto is an industry analyst and founder of Action Instruments. You can e-mail him at jim@jimpinto.com or view his writings at www.JimPinto.com. Read the Table of Contents of his book, Pinto’s Points, at www.jimpinto.com/writings/points.html.