The left brain versus the right brain

The human brain is the most complex entity in the known universe and despite the best endeavours of scientists, there are still many mysteries about the 1.5kg crinkled blob between our ears. I remember first hearing that we use just a tenth of our brains in the 1970s when I was at school. And how amazing, I thought, that there might be a way to unlock that whopping 90% of unused brain capacity. What would not be possible with all of my grey matter in action?

It was nonsense back then, and technological leaps in brain scanning has now proved this for all to see. "Functional imaging has shown us that there are very few parts of the brain that can't be activated by something," says Professor Sophie Scott of the Institute of Cognitive Science at University College, London. Even doing something simple, such as clenching your fist, uses much more than 10% of the brain. A functional brain scan reveals that a vast number of brain cells spring into action as they plan and initiate the contraction of muscles in your fingers and palm.

Anatomically, the brain is divided into two halves - the left hemisphere and the right one. There is some division of labour between them. "There are really big differences between the left and the right sides of the brain," says Professor Scott. "But that's never what people actually mean when you hear the terms used out in a wider discourse. That's very frustrating." From some self-improvement books and business management courses, you might think the two hemispheres are in effect two separate entities.

The left is portrayed as the seat of logic and rationality. The right is described as the font of intuition and creativity. Therefore, if you are a logical person, you use your left brain more. If you are more touchy-feely and artistic, you are right-brained. According to the myth, we would all be more successful and fulfilled people if we learnt to tap the full potential of both hemispheres.

Professor Scott says individuals do differ in the way they think through problems and reflect on the world, but this has nothing to do with different balances of power between their hemispheres. "Some people have really good visual imagery. Some people have good auditory imagery. There is lots of variation out there in how we take information in and process it. "But boiling it down into a left brain 'logical' and right brain 'creative' approach does not follow from what we see in how the brain operates. Also it also suggests you could be using one hemisphere more than the other and that's not really how it works."

The two sides communicate with each other and work together via a complex wodge of neural cabling known as the corpus callosum. The two sides of the brains are complementary and work in concert.


Posted by Leigh, Creative Design Director for The Bridge Group.

Follow Leigh on Twitter @tbgleigh