Left Brain & Right Brain Learners (and how to transition!)

 Since the 1960s, there's been a theory that people are either left-brained or right-brained, meaning that one side of their brain is dominant. If you’re mostly analytical and methodical in your thinking, the theory says that you’re left-brained. If you tend to be more creative or artistic, you’re right-brained.

This theory is based on the fact that the brain’s two hemispheres function differently. The theory developed after research was conducted on split-brain patients, which most people are not.  Does it hold any validity?

Brain Hemispheres

The left brain is more verbal, analytical, and orderly than the right brain.  It’s sometimes called the digital brain, and is better at things like reading, writing, and computations.  It helps with logic, sequencing, linear thinking, facts, mathematics, and thinking in words.

The right brain is more visual and intuitive.  People sometimes refer to it as the analog brain, and it has a more creative and less organized way of thinking.  It helps with imagination, intuition, arts, rhythm, holistic thinking, feelings, visualization, daydreaming, and nonverbal cues.

We know the two sides of our brain are different, but does this necessarily mean that we have a dominant brain just as we have a dominant hand?

People probably DO have a dominant side, but it's not as strongly dominant as pop culture would have you believe.  Different circumstances also activate different parts of your brain, too.  You might work more from the logical side at one point in the day, but the artistic side later.  To really learn and integrate material you're studying, try to integrate both hemispheres of your brain while studying.

Take these Brain Tests (printable) to determine your dominance.  For best results, take it considering yourself in all circumstances.

To activate your right brain:

• doodle, draw, print
• sing, hum, or joke
• breathe deeply, exhaling deeply
• take a stroll
• lean back, relax, and daydream
• make eye contact with others
• notice colors, aromas, sounds, and emotions
• look for patterns, connections, and a bigger picture
• smile, laugh, or give a hug
• exercise or get moving
• be childlike and play

To activate your left brain:

• set goals and check progress
• organize, create priorities, and take notes
• break problems into smaller parts
• check the time, mentally plan the day
• ask questions, seek answers
• perform calisthenics, counting aloud
• work a crossword puzzle or math problem
• make a list

In recent years, researchers have demonstrated that right-brain/left-brain theory is a myth, yet its popularity persists.  It's important to remember that if you take one of the many left brain/right brain quizzes, they are entirely for fun and you shouldn't place much stock in your results.  The idea seems to have taken on a mind of its own within pop culture.  While over-generalized and overstated by pop psychology and self-help texts, understanding your strengths and weaknesses can help you develop better ways to learn and study. 

When choosing a curriculum for your family, you'll want to consider 'intelligence' and learning styles.  A Genius in Every Seat helps you work through determining these factors...

As a teacher, how do you assess intelligence?  Do  you provide and develop opportunities for students’ intelligences, or instead teach to your own?  These can be hard, thought-provoking questions.  Yet, answering each of these is essential if you are to truly examine your educational practices.  How can you best serve the needs of your students?  This examination begins with an assessment of your students’ intelligences.  This e-book comes with a workbook component for surveying yourself and your students, along with suggestions for putting the results into practice.