Final answer:
Damage to the right hemisphere causes weakness on the left side of the body due to the brain's control of opposite-side motor functions. The right hemisphere is also involved in spatial awareness and nonverbal communication, influencing how individuals perceive and express emotions and humor.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the right hemisphere of the brain is affected, the individual will show weakness on the left side of the body. This phenomenon occurs because the brain's hemispheres control movement for the opposite side of the body. The right hemisphere is responsible for motor functions on the left side, and vice versa, so damage to the right hemisphere typically results in motor deficits on the left side.
Additionally, the right hemisphere is involved in nonverbal communication, spatial processing, and attention control. For instance, a person with damage to the right side may have difficulty with tasks that require spatial awareness or interpreting facial expressions and may not respond well to verbal cues that convey emotion or humor. The effects can be quite different from the aphasia typically associated with damage to the left hemisphere, which is more renowned for its role in language processing and production.