Right and left brain encyclopedia. What are the left and right hemispheres of the brain responsible for? The difference between the left hemisphere and the right

What are the left and right hemispheres of our brain responsible for?

The brain is a complex and interconnected system, the largest and functionally important part of the central nervous system. Its functions include processing sensory information from the senses, planning, decision making, coordination, movement control, positive and negative emotions, attention, and memory. The highest function performed by the brain is thinking.

You can easily test which of the hemispheres of your brain is active at the moment. Look at this picture.

If the girl in the picture rotates clockwise, then at the moment you have more active left hemisphere of the brain (logic, analysis). If it turns counterclockwise, then you have an active right hemisphere (emotions and intuition).

In which direction is your girl spinning? It turns out that with some effort of thought, you can make the girl rotate in any direction. For starters, try looking at the picture with a defocused eye.

If you look at the picture at the same time with your partner, friend, girlfriend, acquaintances, it often happens that you simultaneously observe how the girl rotates in two opposite directions - one sees the rotation clockwise, and the other counterclockwise. This is normal, it's just that different hemispheres of the brain are active at the moment.

Areas of specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain

Schematically, this can be represented as follows:

This is, of course, a joke test, but it has some truth. Here is another version of the rotating picture.

After viewing these pictures, the double rotation image is of particular interest.

How else can you check which of the hemispheres you have more developed?

Squeeze your palms in front of you, now interlace your fingers and notice thumb which hand is on top.
- clap your hands, note which hand is on top.
- cross your arms over your chest, mark which forearm is on top.
- Determine the leading eye.

How can you develop the abilities of the hemispheres.

It is now known that the left and right hemispheres of the brain perform different functions. cognitive processes what they do differ. Scientific research in this area has been carried out repeatedly, and now the thesis about the differences in the functioning of the cerebral hemispheres is beyond doubt. In particular, this is confirmed by the studies of such specialists in the field of neuropsychology as R. Sperry, D. Hubel and T. Wiesel.

Proved that the intensity of use of both hemispheres is the same. So the opinion that each person is dominated by one of the hemispheres is a common myth. But the very principle of information processing in them is different. And this is another proof of amazing multitasking human body. If the human brain cannot solve the problem in the usual way, then it is able to apply many others. For example, he will make up for the lack of verbal information with non-verbal information, and he will consider a complex problem as a set of various processes.

The specifics of the work of the right hemisphere

The essence of the differences in the work of the two hemispheres of the brain can be briefly expressed in the following phrase: "The left hemisphere does not see the forest for the trees, and the right one sees the forest, but does not distinguish between individual trees." Accordingly, the right part of the brain in its work is able to realize any phenomenon as a whole, without concentrating on details. It is considered as a certain general picture. This effect is achieved due to the simultaneous and very fast analysis of many elements. Thus, we come to one of the features of the work of the right hemisphere of the brain - the parallel consideration of several tasks.

Multitasking and seeing the big picture

The analysis of information by the left hemisphere of the brain occurs according to a linear principle - first the detection of a problem, then the analysis of the problem, and then the transition to the next one. But the right side of this organ functions differently. At this stage in the development of science, it can be argued that it analyzes several tasks at the same time and reveals the connections between them. Roughly speaking, the brain is able to detect several problems at once (questions, tasks, objects of analysis), consider them simultaneously, at some stage pay attention to one or several of them, and then, if necessary, return to the rest.

This specificity of the work of the right hemisphere determines the systemic vision of the problem. It is as a combination of many interrelated elements, without separation from other problems and factors affecting it. That is, the left hemisphere "sees" first the individual elements of the system, and then, analyzing them, the whole picture. And the right one is able to capture more subtle, “non-obvious” connections. From this follows the next feature - the ability to process non-verbal information.

Recognition and analysis of non-verbal information

This is also a function of the right hemisphere. This term is understood as all those information that is transmitted not in verbal form, but in the form of symbols, signs, gestures, sounds, colors, and so on. For example, the pallor and unhealthy appearance of a person is non-verbal information that can be obtained using the organs of vision, analyzing appearance person. Here are the words about feeling unwell- it's verbal.

There are such types of non-verbal information as:

• Emotional.
• Aesthetic.
• Individual-personal.
• Biophysical.
• Spatial.
• Psychological.

The right hemisphere of the brain is able to analyze numerous implicit signs that form the basis of non-verbal information. And then these signs add up to a single picture, or conclusions are drawn based on them.

Orientation in space

By spatial orientation is understood the process of determining one's position relative to foreign objects and the distance to them in accordance with any reference system. It is on this ability that, for example, orientation on the ground, drawing up a route, or successfully folding a puzzle depends.

Emotion recognition

Emotion recognition and so-called emotional intellect, is also administered by the right hemisphere of the brain. The ability to understand the desires, motives and intentions of other people is based on the ability to capture and analyze many non-verbal messages.

Understanding Metaphors

This ability of a person is also due to the specifics of the work of the right hemisphere. To understand metaphors, it is necessary to have a figurative perception of words, an understanding of hidden and explicit meanings, the ambiguity of one and the same word or expression in different situations. After all, even the simple word "go" can mean a completely different process in the phrases: "a man is walking" and "it is raining." This also includes the recognition of the meaning of proverbs and sayings, any ambiguous expressions.

Fantasy and imagination

Creating mental images is the work of the right hemisphere. This is due to the ability to create, invent and fantasize, mystical thinking, mysticism and religiosity.

In general, the study of the activity of the brain in general, and its hemispheres in particular, is an area where most of the discoveries have yet to be made. What is known now is only a small part of the information array.

I am glad to welcome you, dear readers of my blog! As promised in the previous article, today we will consider what the right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for. I also want to offer an integrated approach to develop both halves. Then you will be successful in any activity, and also learn how to skillfully manage your hands, moreover, perform various functions at the same time.

Functions

The right hemisphere is responsible for our creative part, that is, the ability to fantasize, process information that comes in the form of images, symbols.

Helps to recognize non-verbal manifestations of a person, which, as you know, are very important in the process of communication, since body signals are true and truthful. It is thanks to this part of the brain that we can consider any situation from different angles, giving an objective assessment and, in general, capturing many nuances at the same time, managing to process and systematize them.

A person who has more developed logic does not understand jokes and takes everything literally. On the contrary, a creative person in this regard is very plastic, thinking with the help of metaphors. She is able to write poetry, music, draw and understand people well because she is intuitive and sensitive. He is well oriented in the area, again - thanks to the ability to approach problem solving in a non-standard way, putting puzzles into one picture in his imagination.

Of course, if you raise your left arm or leg up, this means that the opposite hemisphere has joined in the work, since the left side of your body obeys it. It is generally accepted that the orientation of a person with a dominant right half is directed towards environment, that is, outside and is called extraversion.

He is more sociable, prone to emotions and momentary impulses. It does not act according to a clear plan, but based on the situation, adjusting to changing conditions. To find out which half of your brain is more developed, you can experiment by completing the tasks outlined for the left hemisphere of the brain.

Exercises

1. So, in order to pump up your creative part, you should visit exhibitions, museums, art galleries, and, of course, try yourself in writing poems, stories, practice drawing, even if it is abstract and understandable only to you. Dancing helps to coordinate movements, which also has a positive effect on development.
2. Start practicing visualization techniques that will help you achieve your goals faster, as well as help develop the ability to fantasize and dream. This is easy to do, just study for a start, where I talk in detail about all the nuances of the practice.
3. Meditation is not easy for people who have well developed logical thinking, but it is very effective for them. And not only to expand the boundaries of consciousness, the ability to move away from a clear structure and think in volume, but also to improve the quality of life and health. Start with the simplest meditation focused on breathing and the ability to concentrate. Detailed instructions you will find .
4. Massage your left ear, this will help activate the right half of the brain. Suitable in cases where it is necessary to creatively approach the solution of any issue, rely on your intuition.
5. Creativity is not limited to drawing and poetry, read jokes and watch humorous programs, laughter will not only activate the brain, but also improve well-being, preventing the onset of depression. Besides, do you know that people who use humor and sarcasm in their speech have a high level of intelligence?
6. When listening to music, try to listen to your feelings, breathing. Let images, associations and pictures swirl freely in your head, do not control them by trying to get rid of them. Just watch them, like an involuntary spectator of the performance, which was organized by your consciousness and subconsciousness.

An integrated approach to the development of both halves of the brain

As I said, it is important to coordinate the work of both halves in order to expand their capabilities and the functions for which they are responsible. Then a creative approach to solving even the most complex tasks will be provided to you, as well as the speed and efficiency of information processing will increase.

1. Sit comfortably with a straight back, choose a point in front of you, you will have to concentrate on it. After about a minute, try with your peripheral vision, without taking your eyes off the chosen point, to consider what is to your left, and then to your right.
2. With one hand, stroke your stomach, and with the other, perform tapping movements on your head. Slow at first to adjust, then pick up the pace over time.
3. Also, the development of both hemispheres will provide you with such a task: put the finger of one hand on the tip of your nose, and with the other hand, grab the ear opposite to it. For example, the left ear should be taken by the right hand. As soon as you take hold, clap your hands and do the same, changing the position of your hands. That is, the fingers of a completely different hand touch the nose, exactly the same scheme with the ears.
4. Extend your arms in front of you, draw one of them in the air, for example, a square, and the other a circle. When you feel that there are successes, come up with new figures to master.

Conclusion

Do the exercises, and over time you will notice how easier it has become to make decisions and do your usual work, communicate with people and so on. You can periodically check the level of intelligence, how much it rises and changes. You can learn more about this from the article.

There are more right-handers in the world, and almost everything is adapted for them, for right-handers. But on the other hand, they do not have their own day, while left-handers have it - August 13th. It has been celebrated not so long ago, since the 90s of the last century, and was established at the initiative of the International Left-Handed Club.

MedAboutMe invites you to talk about others interesting facts associated with the work of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Left-handedness is just the beginning.

The brain and its two halves

If it were possible to ask Nature questions and get clear answers to them, one of the questions would probably sound like this:

What for? Why was it necessary to make the hemispheres of the brain different, endow them with different functions? Why couldn't they be made symmetrical, with the same tasks, performing the same functions? Why complicate things?

I wonder what the answer would be. But for now, scientists have to look for it, researching and analyzing, summarizing and drawing conclusions, correct and not so.

What is known today?

The brain is characterized by laterality, that is, asymmetry, in which the right hemisphere is not identical in function to the left. The right hand is controlled by the left hemisphere and vice versa, the left - by the right. Leading is not only the hand, but also the leg, ear, eye. Right-handedness and left-handedness are determined already in the first trimester of pregnancy. By the 15th week, the fetus begins to suck the thumb of the dominant hand. Left-handedness can be passed from parents to children. In a family where at least one of the parents is left-handed, a left-handed child is more likely to be born. The likelihood of being born left-handed also increases the stress experienced by the mother during pregnancy. And left-handers are more common among twins and among children born ahead of time. There are more left-handers among men than among women. Left-handers are unevenly distributed around the world. There are most of them in Papua New Guinea - almost 25%, less in the UK and the USA, about 10%. On average, left-handed people make up 15% of the world's population. There are practically very few 100% left-handed or right-handed people; in the majority, one can only speak of a more or less pronounced predominance of one type or another. In right-handed people, the left hemisphere is responsible for processing information. Lefties have both. It is believed that this gives some advantages: it contributes to the generation of non-standard ideas and finding non-standard solutions. Ambidextrous are people who have both hands leading. For them, it does not matter which hand to hold a spoon, pen or hammer. With luck, both arms of the ambidextrous will be equally developed. It happens, unfortunately, that both of them turn out to be “leftist”. Left-handers may experience difficulties with the development of speech in childhood - after all, the center of speech is located in the left hemisphere, which controls their right, less developed hand. Problems can extend to both writing and reading. In the creative professions and in sports, left-handed people are more likely to succeed, so there are quite a lot of left-handed people among celebrities in these areas. But for scientists, apparently, left-handedness does not give an advantage, but it does not interfere either.

Now about myths.

Left-handedness in children can be eliminated if parents show diligence

Theoretically, it can be eliminated. This is still being done in China, and this was also done in the USSR, where it was customary to retrain left-handed children to be “like everyone else”.

In fact, this is highly undesirable. A retrained left-hander is often faced with the fact that he simply does not have a leading, well-functioning hand. In addition, forced relearning leads to a host of psychological problems, since forcing people to write right hand possible, but the leading hemisphere will still remain the same.

Overtrained left-handers are worse at writing and reading, they are prone to typical mistakes and absorb information worse.

Ambidextrous are more successful because both hemispheres are dominant.

Unfortunately, it is not. In fact, ambidexters in life have even more difficult times than left-handed people. As children, they are more likely to have difficulty with languages ​​(including their native language) and writing, they are more prone to attention deficit disorder and are more likely to be hyperactive. Parents should take this into account when raising an ambidexter child.

With age, most ambidexters still choose one of the leading hands and become more right-handed or left-handed.

Interesting

Artist Xiaonan Song masterfully draws with both hands at the same time. Moreover, he can draw both one drawing with two hands at once, and with two hands at the same time different drawings.

The brain of a left-hander is better adapted to "multitasking"

"Physicists" and "lyricists" - the result of the predominance of the right or left hemisphere

This is not a completely correct statement. The hemispheres differ more in the way they process incoming information, rather than in the types of mental activity. Neither creativity nor rationality can be the result of the activity of one hemisphere, it is always the result of the work of the brain as a whole.

But one of the hemispheres can really prevail. So, right-brained left-handers are more inclined to perceive a holistic image, and left-brained right-handers notice details first of all. Some “do not see the forest for the trees”, while others, on the contrary, see only the “forest”, not distinguishing individual “trees” in it.

People with a more developed left hemisphere are more prone to analysis and activity in the exact sciences, but this does not mean at all that right hemispheres are necessarily mediocre in mathematics. They may be no less talented precisely because they approach problem solving differently. And, as you know, there are many right-handed artists. By the way, in such a direction as hyperrealism, the left-hemispheric artists, who are attentive to details and subtleties, have more chances.

And one more thing: the degree of activity of the hemispheres changes with age.

Interesting

The brain of a left-hander is mirrored in relation to the brain of a right-hander

That is, it differs not only in the dominant hemisphere, but also in the localization of various centers in the hemispheres.

This is true only in part and only for 100% left-handers, and these are no more than a quarter of their total number. For the rest of the left-handers, everything is arranged in exactly the same way as for the right-handers. A true left-hander can be determined using tomography, for example, showing which hemisphere is active in a person during speech perception. If the right one - we have before us a true left-hander, whose speech center is located in the right hemisphere, and not like right-handers and "conditional" left-handers, in the left.

Some more facts Left-handedness and right-handedness can affect who you vote for in an election. This applies to undecided voters. Psychologists have found that candidates whose name is located on the ballot from the side of the dominant hand of the voter have more chances. Because people subconsciously consider that what is on the “correct”, dominant side is more correct and good. Attempts to retrain left-handers lead to neurosis and depression. They do not acquire the expected advantages in relation to those who have not been retrained. Left-handed people are indeed somewhat more likely to become victims and perpetrators of accidents and accidents. But not because they have a worse reaction or they are less attentive, but because everything in the world is more suitable for right-handed people. Lefties, contrary to earlier beliefs, are not at all more prone to crime or schizophrenia, in which the infamous Cesare Lombroso was wrong. The percentage of left-handers among criminals is exactly the same as among right-handers. But among successful athletes, left-handers really stand out. And precisely because of his left-handedness and left-footedness. It is more difficult for the opponent to compete with them or fight, it is more difficult to foresee their movements, blows or attacks. Left-handers have a better developed short-term memory, they have more flexibility of mind, but are less prone to analysis. Expert CommentaryDaniel Casasanto, Psychologist

Much in his life depends on who a person is, left-handed and right-handed. And not only with which hand he will sign a check or stir sugar in coffee.

The dominant hemisphere can even influence his choice of a life partner. How?

Imagine that you enter a bar or a bus lounge and see several members of the opposite sex there. More attractive and attractive will seem to you those that are located on the dominant side - on the right for a right-hander and on the left for a left-hander. And the likelihood that a right-handed person will try to get acquainted with a right-handed girl is higher. Even if the one sitting on the left is no worse and has the same charming smile.

In a store, right-handers are more likely to choose the product located on the right, all other things being equal, left-handers - on the left.

Left-handers may react differently to critical situations, which is important, for example, in the event of an accident. A left-handed driver will try to dodge the collision in the wrong direction, and as a result, he may get hit if the second participant in the accident is right-handed. They just try to turn in one direction.

Left-handed people have to adjust to a right-handed world, and it's not always easy to do so. Everything from scissors to a computer mouse to traffic rules is right-handed.

But left-handers are just a variant of the norm. They should not feel like second class people.

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Shutterstock photo materials used

Shoshina Vera Nikolaevna

Therapist, education: Northern medical University. Work experience 10 years.

Articles written

The brain is the most important organ of the body, consisting of. To understand the characteristics of a particular person, it is important to know what the right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for, and what the left hemisphere is responsible for.

A person has sense organs with which he is connected with the outside world:

• hearing;
• vision;
• smell;
• taste and tactile sensations through which he receives information.

And all this processing is done by the brain. In addition, it is used to:

• planning action;
• making decisions;
• coordination of movements;
• recognition of emotions, dividing them into positive and negative;
• development of attention and memory;
• thinking (highest function).

The hemispheres of the brain are not separate structures that work in isolation. Between them there is a gap with the corpus callosum. This helps both hemispheres to function in a coordinated manner.

All movements of one side of the body are controlled by the opposite side of the brain. So, if a person makes a movement with his right hand, it means that she received an impulse from the left hemisphere. In people who have experienced a stroke (impaired circulation in the brain), the side of the body that is opposite to the affected area is paralyzed.

The brain consists of two components - gray and white matter. , under its control is all human activity, and white is nerve fibers performing many functions that govern well-coordinated work both hemispheres. Gray matter formed in a person under the age of 6 years.

Functions of the left half

Due to the fact that the brain consists of two hemispheres, each of them is involved to a greater or lesser extent and performs its functions. This discovery was made less than a century ago by the American neurosurgeons Bogen and Vogel and the neuropsychologist Sperry.

The left hemisphere is responsible for a person's ability to use language as a means of communication. It controls:

• speech process (construction of phrases, vocabulary);
• the ability to decipher information received with the help of the organs of vision;
• the use of graphic characters in writing;
• important information.

A person differs from the entire animal world in that he is the only one who has developed the ability to think, for which the left hemisphere is also responsible.

This side of the brain is capable of not only receiving information, but also processing it. It is the left hemisphere that recognizes numbers and symbols, because it can decipher them.

Since thanks to the left hemisphere a person is able to think logically, it was this part of the brain that was considered the leading (dominant) for a long time. But this is only true when the functions are executed:

• speech;
• letter;
• solving mathematical problems;
• movement on the right side of the body.

Usually different types activities require the activation of a certain part of the brain.

Tasks of the right half

The ability to think in humans exists not only due to the work of the left half of the brain, but also the right hemisphere. But for a long time, scientists did not see much benefit from the right hemisphere, and surgeons, if damaged, could remove it, considering it to be the same rudimentary organ as the appendix.

It got to the point that a child who learned to write and took a pen in his left hand was retrained and forced to work with his right hand.

Since intuition and concrete imaginative thinking are the merit of the right lobe, these functions were not considered important. And intuition was generally ridiculed, and its existence questioned. It has been proven that this is nothing more than a myth.

Today, those people who can think outside the box are especially valuable, and their creativity is a bright feature of a creative person. Psychologists believe that for a long time the upbringing of children was left-brained. Therefore, in bookstores you can find collections of exercises with which you can learn how to stimulate the right hemisphere of the brain.

Based on this, the question arises: if a scientist has developed logical thinking, what is the left hemisphere of the brain responsible for, then why does he need the right one? Maybe he doesn't need it?

Over time, scientists came to the conclusion that the functions of the right hemisphere are important for the rest of the brain. It turned out that most mathematicians simultaneously use the thinking style characteristic of the opposite share. Ordinary people think with words, but during scientific activity, imagery is often connected to this. Therefore, this ability of both lobes to synchronize results in non-standard solutions, inventions, and innovations in various areas of life.

Albert Einstein began to speak and write late as a child. This means that his right hemisphere was actively developing during this period. Thanks to him, he created his own signs of inner speech, and then used them in scientific activities. This world-famous scientist was not given school sciences, except for mathematics. Nevertheless, he became an educated person and created the physical theory of relativity, the quantum theory of heat capacity.

An analysis of his brain showed that the left and right hemispheres of the brain are more connected than in ordinary people, and some areas are enlarged. This feature allowed a world-famous scientist to give mankind useful inventions.

The right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for processing non-verbal information, which is presented in the form of pictures, signs, symbols, schemes. In addition, a person who has a developed right lobe is different in that he:

• navigates in space, collects puzzles;
• has an ear for music and ability to music;
• understands the subtext of what is said;
• able to dream and fantasize, invent, compose;
• has the ability to be creative, in particular, to draw;
• processes information in parallel from several sources.

These abilities make people interesting, extraordinary, creative.

Development of the hemispheres

The brain of a child works differently than that of an adult. These differences are due to the fact that in a baby everything develops in stages, while in an adult it is an already formed organ.

Scientists have proven that the most important periods influencing the development of emotions, processes of cognition and adaptation in society are years from 1 to 4. The rate of formation of new neurons in a child is 700 per second. In an adult, the number of connections gradually decreases (hence the forgetfulness, inattention, slow reactions in the elderly).

First, the child actively develops the zones responsible for perception - vision and hearing. Then the area responsible for speech is activated. Then the process of cognition is formed.

Many parents want their child to develop according to their goals. And if the baby does not live up to their expectations, they try to "re-profile" the brain of children and end up with an artist or mathematician.

Each person owns a tool for the development of the brain - these are his fingers. To Small child he spoke faster, they do exercises on fine motor skills with him. To get the active work of the left and right hemispheres, they try to do not quite standard actions during the day. For example, lovers of drawing try to do it in a mirror image.

Another exercise is the "Ring". It is made from the thumb and forefinger. Then alternately the thumb is connected to the middle, ring and little fingers. This must be done as quickly as possible. First with one hand, and then with both at the same time.

During normal exercise, you need to often connect opposite limbs: the left hand with right foot and vice versa. You can reach your right ear with your left hand, then everything is exactly the opposite. It is useful to do daily tasks with an inactive hand:

• fasten buttons on clothes;
• write on paper;
• sweep;
• wipe the dust;
• use cutlery.

As a result, the productivity of different parts of the brain.

Those who want to do exact sciences do not need to specialize only in logical problems. By developing imaginative thinking, one can achieve significant results even in physics and mathematics.