Question

Anna argues that people are "right-brained" or "left-brained". Romona, you inherit if you are "right" or "left" brined. Kristen thinks that there is some specialization in the right and left hemispheres but not to the extent that has been popularly believed. Who is right?

Answer 1

The myth of people being 'right-brained' or 'left-brained' is an oversimplification, as both hemispheres interact to support cognitive functions. While there is some lateralization, like language functions in the left hemisphere and spatial abilities in the right, most cognitive processes involve both sides of the brain. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres, allowing for interhemispheric communication.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of being "right-brained" or "left-brained" is indeed a myth and an oversimplification of brain function. While it is true that there is some degree of lateralization of function in the cerebral hemispheres, there is no clear-cut dominance by one side for all cognitive abilities. For instance, the left hemisphere tends to handle language functions, and the right hemisphere is often associated with spatial and nonverbal reasoning. However, these functions are not exclusively performed by one hemisphere; they are distributed throughout the brain.

Research indicates that different aspects of behavior and cognition may show some hemispheric dominance, but these results are inconsistent and vary among individuals. This suggests that it's more accurate to consider the interaction between the two hemispheres when explaining behavior, rather than attributing it to one side. Moreover, handedness and brain lateralization, such as right-handedness in humans, indicate some form of brain specialization, but they do not imply that one hemisphere is more dominant overall.

Additionally, the corpus callosum plays a crucial role in connecting the two hemispheres and facilitating interhemispheric communication. In extreme cases, such as to control intractable epilepsy, cutting the corpus callosum (callosotomy) can result in the two hemispheres acting more independently, as seen in experiments by neuroscientist Michael Gazzaniga. Nevertheless, for the majority of people, there is a constant and complex interaction between both sides of the brain that supports integrated cognitive functioning.