This article is a thumbnail sketch of the left and right brain traits. This is merely the beginning in understanding the two. Which one are you?

The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. The right side controls the left. The population seems to be equally split left and right. A brain can be half left/half right, predominantly left or predominantly right.

Learning Styles

Left brains learn by hearing. They find the lecture system just fine. Right brains need to see something done--show me, to feel, and to actually experience the process--then, they remember. Lecture style is a challenge for a right brain.

Recall

Left brains can go to a party, meet 12 new people, and remember their names the next day. The right brained person will not remember the names but will remember what they were wearing, the couch they were sitting on, the room they were in, how their hair was done, and possibly what they were talking about. Everything but the name.

How They Approach A Project

Left brains naturally arrange the various steps in order and begin with the first one. Right brains prefer the ricochet method. They select steps without any obvious order--doing what comes to mind at the moment. Both get the job done but in different ways.

Neatness

Lefts usually have a tidy personal space and know where things are. Rights have a "piling" system that they use quite often. They sometimes say, "Don't touch my piles. I know where everything is." Other rooms in a right brain's world may be neat and tidy, but the personal space rarely is.

Planning

Lefts plan days in advance and are prepared for weekends, parties, and going to the movies. Rights decide things on the spur of the moment.

Testing

Lefts memorize well. They can remember dates and facts easily. On tests they do quite well. Rights remember images and patterns. They can see the picture of that soldier next to the cannon, remember details in his uniform, know what season of the year it is, and they know the date is below--but what is that date? Lefts usually do better on tests even if both left and right brains have the same I.Q.

Impulse Control

Lefts can control their behavior easier. If a left has an eraser thrown at him, he first checks the location of the teacher. If the teacher is looking at him, he does not touch the eraser. A right will "not" look to see where the teacher is, pick up the eraser, throw it back at the person that threw it at him and get caught.

Punctuality

Lefts will be on time and even early for everything. They are the ones in the theatre before anyone else gets there. Rights, on the other hand, are usually only on time for the most important things. Rights are likely to be on time for church if in the choir. If not in the choir, it is probably optional to be on time.

Gestures

Lefts speak with few gestures and are not very animated. Their voice does not fluctuate much. Rights can not talk without using the hands. Their facial expression and voice may both be quite animated and entertaining.

We need both right and left brains. Join me for future articles on brain dominance and find out how both sides of the brain contribute to our society and world.

More on right brains and left brains: Famous Right Brains, Right/Left Brain Background

Related articles: Algebra + Algebra8 = Success, Delayed Brain Growth, Autism On The Rise.

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

Copyright article 2006 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.