Left or Right: Which Side of the Brain is Utilized Most?

Written by Fiona Nikolla

The brain, the organ with the utmost power and determination for the human body, is qualified for an extensive number of capabilities. But, as our brain controls our functions and cognitive abilities, both the right and left sides of our brains are characterized by their distinctive function. Both sides of the brain are crucial in performing daily tasks, but how each side is defined is crucial to understanding how both overlap in function as well as differ in their distinctive abilities. 

Characterization: Right vs. Left

Though the sides of the brain are labeled as left and right, each side corresponds to the opposite side of the body. For instance, the right hemisphere parallels the left-handed side of the body and is in control of the more creative aspects of speech, language, and other emotional factors that are expressional. More so, the left hemisphere correlates with the right-handed side of the body controls more logical processes, and helps in computing or making rational decisions. Since this realization of distinctions, the concept of brain lateralization, or the thought that some mental volume occurs more on one side, is a controversial topic that scientists have previously rejected because of the belief that all cognitive functions occur simultaneously when performing tasks. However, there is some evidence certain tasks that create a lateral split between both halves of the brain that requires understanding. 

Brain Lateralization & Its Possibilities: 

One crucial function known to spark the possibility of brain lateralization is the usage of language. Language, though using many sections of the brain, has many functions that occur in the left hemisphere of the brain. This discovery was so significant that it was even one of the first instances where the possibility of brain lateralization could occur. The left side contains many of the processing areas such as the Wernicke which understands speech, and the Broca which is crucial in curating comprehendible sentences. Any injuries that would occur in these essential areas often resulted in the incapability to comprehend or fully speak. However, to model what would happen if this function needed to be fully dependable on one side, scientists have developed a method to test this called the “Wada test.” This test involves chemically disabling one side, to see how the other side functions independently. Upon the conduction of this test, it proved effective that though the left brain was more crucial in language processing, the right side was more active in capturing spoken or other visual forms of communication. 

Though there may be some brain lateralization amongst certain functionalities, oftentimes one side of the brain overpowers the other depending on the activity on hand. As anything as simple as language processing has been proven to predominate mostly in the left side of the brain, the right side was still proven effective in some additional processes. When it comes to deciding which side fits your personality whether you are more creative or analytical, there is no one hundred percent fit on one side; rather, it is a proportionate or separated ability on the two sides that requires some help from the other. Altogether, the brain is an all-around “mastermind” behind it all. 

References

https://www.simplypsychology.org/left-brain-vs-right-brain.html

Written by Fiona Nikolla from MEDILOQUY