The Left versus the Right Sides of the Brain: Their Impact on Learning
The higher brain – the cerebral cortex – is anatomically divided into two hemispheres – the right and the left. Although the two hemispheres are basically similar in structure, microscopic differences exist, and their functional abilities and propensities are different. These functional differences are described as ‘hemispheric asymmetry’ (Hellige, 1993). The left hemisphere controls sensory and motor functions of the right side of the body, and vice versa. The layman’s percept is that the left hemisphere is responsible for symbolic processes, production and perception of language, and rational thinking, while the right is involved in artistic, intuitive, and creative thinking. This ...