What about right brain-left brain?

According to Roger Sperry, the guru on brain function, the left hemisphere is where language is dominant and where logic and math reigns. The right hemisphere involves the processing of art, music and other aural and visual sensual imagery.

People like to say that they are either right-brained or left-brained. I would rather consider myself as both-brained; although, I'm much better at the left-brained aspects of logic and math.

So, what's the real scoop on this idea? The only truth is that the human brain has two cerebral hemispheres and they're connected by means of the corpus callosum. What's that? It translates as the 'tough body,' and its a wide, flat bundle of nerve fibers beneath the cortex that connects the two hemispheres together. What's fascinating about this part of the brain is that it's involved in sexual difference. Females have a larger corpus callosum, which is associated with cognitive skills.

The other fact that is known about the two hemispheres is that they determine whether a person is right-handed or left-handed. It turns out that right-handed people are left-brained. Is that confusing or what? No, it's the fact that the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and vice versa.

Actually, the two hemispheres are much the same, but there are two areas that have a lot to do with how our brains work. Broca's area (French physician Pierre Paul Broca) and Wernicke's area (German physician Karl Wernicke) are two parts of the cortex that have been associated with specific functions. Broca's area is in the left frontal lobe and is connected with speech production. Wernicke's area is in the left posterior, superior lobe or gyrus. This area is associated with speech comprehension. Since these areas are essentially left hemisphere it's the reason that people that are left-brained know language well, and since females have their hemispheres more connected it explains why they are better at language and speech. Okay, no jokes here, fellows.

The way that Sperry determined this left-brain right-brain phenomenon is by observing patients that had undergone a corpus colostomy (they had their two hemispheres disconnected) as part of a partial cure for epilepsy. Obviously, people like this exhibited unusual symptoms, especially involving language. This is where the idea of left- or right-brained comes from.

It's obvious that speech and language are associated with the left hemisphere. How about logic and cognitive abilities? That's where the research is not quite solid. The study of the hemispheres' differences is called Lateralization and the research in this field is limited. In other words, it's hard to do research because you have to do it on humans, not animals.

Obviously, one of the reasons that the two hemispheres are separated but still connected is to allow for some specialization and yet have a possible backup in case of brain damage. This is evident in the fact that a brain-damaged person can often re-learn the things that the damage destroyed. It proves the wonderful and amazing complexity of the human brain and why we are the dominant species on this planet.

Thanks for reading.