Your name__________________________________
Right Brain, Left Brain
By Jennifer Kenny
How do you write, cut, draw, or sew? Are you left-handed or right-handed? By age
three, most people know the answer to that. If you are right-handed, the left hemisphere
of your brain is better developed. If you are left-handed, the right hemisphere of your
brain is better developed. The better-developed hemisphere is dominant. Nine out of ten
people are right-handed.
1
The dominant hemisphere controls a person's ability to speak. Oddly enough, if a
person is in an accident and loses the ability to speak because of injury to that part of the
brain, the other hemisphere will gradually take over that task to some degree.
2
The movements of the left side of the body are controlled by the right side of the
brain. The movements of the right side of the body are controlled by the left side of the
brain. Sometimes, though, one side of the brain is more developed for a particular
activity. This doesn't mean that both sides aren't involved in the task. It just means that a
certain side might be dominant for that task. No matter what, the two sides pass signals
and work as one control center.
3
The two sides of the brain look the same. They are both pinkish-gray. They are both
wrinkled. Gradually, between the ages of one and ten, differences in the two sides
develop.
4
In general, the left cerebral hemisphere likes to work with the idea that parts make up
the whole. It controls the right side of the body. It is also the center for speaking, reading,
writing, words, numbers, calculations, and logic problems. The left side is more verbal.
The right cerebral hemisphere likes to work with the whole. It controls the left side of the
body. It is also the center for things like shapes, drawing, painting, music, ideas, humor,
and intuition.
5
How do scientists know all of this? It's not really obvious on the outside which part of
the brain helps you think, is it? One way they know is through brain mapping. The brain
is not sensitive to pain. Therefore, operations on the brain can sometimes be done while
the patient is wide awake. The doctor can stimulate specific places during surgery to see
what happens. The doctor can see what has been damaged by a tumor, for example, and
also where the brain functions lie. For example, the surgeon can touch a part of the brain
and ask the patient a question to see, by the patient's answer, where certain verbal
functions are controlled. As the doctor finds out the answers, a map of the brain is made.
6
7
Another way that we have learned about brain hemispheres is through the study of
patients with epilepsy who have had split-brain surgery to stop seizures. By flashing
pictures in front of the person and seeing the reaction, doctors have seen which side is
more dominant for which task based on the person's reaction. How incredible is that?
Copyright © 2016 edHelper
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
Right Brain, Left Brain
1. Out of ten people, _____________
2. The left side of the brain controls the
is/are usually left-handed.
Five
Two
One
Nine
3. Your ability to play a logical game like
movements of the left side of the body.
False
True
4. Your painting ability is centered in the
chess is more centered in the
__________.
Left cerebral hemisphere
Right cerebral hemisphere
5. The brain is not sensitive to pain.
_______________.
Left cerebral hemisphere
Right cerebral hemisphere
6. Which phrase describes the ability to
False
True
7. Doctors have also learned about brain
hemispheres through the study of
patients with ____________.
Tuberculosis
Measles
Eczema
Epilepsy
mark which part of the brain controls
what?
Brain mapping
Brain tumor
Hemisphere surgery
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
Right Brain, Left Brain
Describe which hand you write, cut, or draw with. Explain what this says about your brain.
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
Right Brain, Left Brain
Which side of your brain do you think is more dominant? Defend your opinion by describing your
strengths.