BRAIN DOMINANCE
By Shaleene Lemke
Period 4
Problem
Do left-brain dominant people and right-brain
dominant people perceive optical illusions differently?
Research
Your brain is divided into two hemispheres connected by a
thick band of nerve fibers (the corpus callosum) which
sends messages back and forth between the hemispheres.
And while brain research confirms that both sides of the
brain are involved in nearly every human activity, we do
know that the left side of the brain is the seat of language
and processes in a logical and sequential order. The right
side is more visual and processes intuitively, holistically,
and randomly. We each have a dominant side that we
seem to choose over the other.
http://frank.mtsu.edu/~studskl/hd/hemis.html
No author. Aquired on: November 27, 2012
Research continued…
The Right Brain
According to the left-brain, right-brain dominance theory, the right side of the brain is best at expressive and creative
tasks. Some of the abilities that are popularly associated with the right side of the brain include:
• Recognizing faces
• Expressing emotions
• Music
• Reading emotions
• Color
• Images
• Intuition
• Creativity
The Left Brain
The left-side of the brain is considered to be adept at tasks that involve logic, language and analytical thinking. The leftbrain is often described as being better at:
• Language
• Logic
• Critical thinking
• Numbers
• Reasoning
http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/a/left-brain-right-brain.htm
Title: Left Brain vs Right Brain Understanding the Myth and Reality of Left Brain and Right Brain Dominance
Author: Kendra Cherry
Acquired on: November 27, 2012
Hypothesis
If left side dominant will see patterns and lines better and
right side dominant people will see more visual shapes and
concepts because of the functions of each side of our
brains then both sides of the brain will perceive things
different.
Procedure
Materials
Participants
Brain dominance test
Optical illusion test
Pen and paper (to record results)
Red pen (to correct tests)
Steps
1. Give participants tests. One will be to determine whether they are left or right
brain dominant. The other will be the optical illusion test. Both of these tests will
help determine different part of the result in the end.
2. Gather all of the tests. Correct the first test about brain dominance.Separate the
tests into two categories- left brain and right brain dominant.
3. Correct the second test on optical illusions. Record everything.
4. Draw conclusions on the difference between the two brain dominances.
Procedure continued…
Variables:
Independent Measured-brain dominance of
participants
Manipulated Dependent-results of the optical illusion
test
Controls:
The tests
The day the test is taken
Constant:
Compared against each other
Right Brain Dominant
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
Picture 7
Picture 8
Totals
Percent
A
17
94 %
B
4
A
Left Brian Dominant
Total
Percent
A
5
100 %
6%
B
0
6
33 %
A
B
12
66 %
A
9
B
Equally Sided
Total
Percent
A
2
100 %
0%
B
0
0%
2
40 %
A
1
50 %
B
3
60 %
B
1
50 %
50 %
A
1
20 %
A
2
100 %
9
50 %
B
4
80 %
B
0
0%
A
16
89 %
A
4
80 %
A
2
100 %
B
2
11 %
B
1
20 %
B
0
0%
A
8
44 %
A
3
60 %
A
1
50 %
B
10
56 %
B
2
40 %
B
1
50 %
A
1
6%
A
0
0%
A
1
50 %
B
17
94 %
B
5
100 %
B
1
50 %
A
14
78 %
A
5
100 %
A
2
100 %
B
4
22 %
B
0
0%
B
0
0%
A
2
11 %
A
0
0%
A
0
0%
B
16
89 %
B
5
100 %
B
2
100 %
18 TOTAL PEOPLE
5 TOTAL PEOPLE
2 TOTAL PEOPLE
1
Final Results
2
Answer that was dominant
Right
Left
Equal
A.
B.
Two Faces
Vase
3
Picture 1
A
A
A
Picture 2
B
B
E
Picture 3
E
B
A
A
A
A
Picture 5
B
A
E
Picture 6
B
B
E
Picture 7
A
A
A
Picture 8
B
B
B
Parallel Lines
Non-Parallel Lines
4
BLUE
A.
B.
Rabbit
Duck
5
Picture 4
A.
B.
A.
B.
The word blue
The color red
6
Towards
Away
7
A.
B.
A.
B.
A.
B.
An old woman
A young lady
8
A spiral
A series of circles
A.
B.
Sherlock Holmes
Snow White
Picture 1
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Answer A
Answer B
A. Two Faces
B. Vase
Picture
1 Right
Picture
1 Left
Picture
1 Equal
Picture 2
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Answer A
Answer B
Right
Left
Equal
A. Parallel Lines
B. Non- Parallel
Lines
Picture 3
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Answer A
Answer B
A. Rabbit
B. Duck
Right
Left
Equal
Picture 4
BLUE
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Answer A
Answer B
Right
Left
Equal
A. The word blue
B. The color red
Picture 5
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Answer A
Answer B
A. Towards
B. Away
Right
Left
Equal
Picture 6
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Answer A
Answer B
A. An old woman
B. A young lady
Right
Left
Equal
Picture 7
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Answer A
Answer B
A. A spiral
B. Series of circles
Right
Left
Equal
Picture 8
100%
98%
96%
94%
92%
Answer A
Answer B
90%
88%
A. Sherlock Holmes
B. Snow White
86%
84%
82%
Right
Left
Equal
Conclusion
The data shows that there is not a significant
difference for the most part, right brain and left brain
dominance does not make a big difference in the way the
illusions are interpreted. Only two illusions had entirely
varied answers. The rest, the general percentage all chose
the same answer. My hypothesis was incorrect because I
thought there would be a difference when there was not.