Are creative people right-brained and analytical thinkers left-brained?
Have you ever heard people say that they are more of a left-brained vs. a right-brained thinker?
From books to TV shows, you’ve probably heard the phrase mentioned numerous times.
Michela Buttignol for Verywell Mind
Or perhaps you’ve even taken an online test to determine whether you are right-brained or left-brained.
Like most things in life, it’s not all or nothing, or this OR that.
Traits of a Left-Brained Person
The left side of the brain is adept at certain tasks.
Characteristics of the left brain include those related to:
What are “left-brained” people like?
They are described as logical, analytical, and orderly.
This includes careers such as accountant, scientist, or computer programmer.
There are several abilities popularly associated with the right side of the brain.
They are often described as being more emotional, intuitive, and creative.
A person who is “right-brained” is said to be more intuitive, thoughtful, and subjective.
Inpsychology, the theory is based on the lateralization of brain function.
The brain contains two hemispheres that each perform a number of roles.
The two sides of the braincommunicate with one anothervia the corpus callosum.
History of Left Brain vs.
Right Brain Theory
So does one side of the brain control specific functions?
Are people either left-brained or right-brained?
Based on this information, Sperry suggested that language was controlled by the left side of the brain.
Left Brain vs.
Right Brain Research
Later research has shown that the brain is not nearly as dichotomous as once thought.
“The pop psychology notion of a left brain and a right brain doesnt capture their intimate working relationship.
Its absolutely true that some brain functions occur in one or the other side of the brain.
Language tends to be on the left, attention more on the right.
But people dont tend to have a stronger left- or right-sided brain web link.
While the idea of left-brain vs. right-brain thinkers has been debunked, its popularity persists.
Persisting Myths of the Left Brain vs.
Right Brain
Researchers have demonstrated that left-brain/right-brain theory is a myth,yet its popularity persists.
Unfortunately, many people are likely unaware that the theory is outdated.
In fact, the idea seems to have taken on a mind of its own within popular culture.
No matter what punch in of thinking you are doing, both sides of your brain are involved.
Corballis MC.Left brain, right brain: facts and fantasies.PLoS Biol.2014;12(1):e1001767.
Whitehouse AJ, Bishop DV.Hemispheric division of function is the result of independent probabilistic biases.Neuropsychologia.
2019;16(8):e1002862.
