Name _______________________________________
Miss Madruga/Social Issues Period _____
Assignment # _____
Date ___________
LEFT BRAIN-RIGHT BRAIN
and the Corpus Callosum
STEP ONE: Read & annotate the articles below. Use the three steps of annotating! Also, look up new terms & define
them.
What Is Left Brain - Right Brain Theory?
According to the theory of left-brain or right-brain dominance, each side of the brain controls different types of
thinking. Additionally, people are said to prefer one type of thinking over the other. For example, a person who is
"left-brained" is often said to be more logical, analytical, and objective, while a person who is "right-brained" is
said to be more intuitive, thoughtful, and subjective.
The right brain-left brain theory originated in the work of Roger W. Sperry, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in
1981. While studying the effects of epilepsy, Sperry discovered that cutting the corpus callosum (the structure that
connects the two hemispheres of the brain) could reduce or eliminate seizures.
However, these patients also experienced other symptoms after the communication pathway between the two
sides of the brain was cut. For example, many split-brain patients found themselves unable to name objects that
were processed by the right side of the brain, but were able to name objects that were processed by the left-side
of the brain. Based on this information, Sperry suggested that language was controlled by the left-side of the
brain.
Later research has shown that the brain is not nearly as dichotomous as once thought. For example, recent
research has shown that abilities in subjects such as math are actually strongest when both halves of the brain
work together. Today, neuroscientists know that the two sides of the brain work together to perform a wide
variety of tasks and that the two hemispheres communicate through the corpus callosum.
"No matter how lateralized the brain can get, though, the two sides still work together," science writer Carl
Zimmer explained in an article for Discover magazine. "The pop psychology notion of a left brain and a right brain
doesn’t capture their intimate working relationship. The left hemisphere specializes in picking out the sounds that
form words and working out the syntax of the words, for example, but it does not have a monopoly on language
processing. The right hemisphere is actually more sensitive to the emotional features of language, tuning in to the
slow rhythms of speech that carry intonation and stress."
“It’s absolutely true that some brain functions occur in one or the other side of the brain. Language tends to be on
the left, attention more on the right. But people don’t tend to have a stronger left- or right-sided brain network. It
seems to be determined more connection by connection," explained the study's lead author Dr. Jeff Anderson.
While the idea of right brain / left brain thinkers has been debunked, its popularity persists. So what exactly
did this theory suggest?
The Left Brain
The left-side of the brain is considered to be
adept at tasks that involve logic, language and
analytical thinking. The left-brain is often
described as being better at:
• Language
• Logic
• Critical thinking
• Numbers
• Reasoning
The Right Brain
According to the left-brain, right-brain dominance
theory, the right side of the brain is best at expressive
and creative tasks. Some of the abilities that are
popularly associated with the right side of the brain
include:
• Recognizing faces
• Expressing emotions
• Music
• Reading emotions
• Color
• Images
• Intuition
• Creativity
Excerpts from: http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/a/left-brain-right-brain.htm
Corpus Callosum
The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that divides the cerebrum into left and right hemispheres. It
connects the left and right sides of the brain allowing for communication between both hemispheres. The corpus
callosum transfers motor, sensory, and cognitive information between the brain hemispheres.
The corpus callosum is involved in several functions of the body including:
• Communication Between Brain Hemispheres
• Eye Movement
• Maintaining the Balance of Arousal and Attention
• Tactile Localization
Source: http://biology.about.com/od/anatomy/p/corpus-callosum.htm
STEP TWO: Annotate the image below by paraphrasing the meaning of each adjective used for each hemisphere.
Use www.learnersdictionary.com and expand your vocabulary!
STEP THREE: Test yourself to see if you are dominantly left brained or right brained. Remember, this is just a theory!
Test A:
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Go to http://braintest.sommer-sommer.com/en/ to complete a brief measurement of your hemisphere use.
Read each question and answer quickly.
Heads up! There’s a part about colors. Your job will be to click the color of the ink used to write the work.
According to this site, what percent “Left Brain” are you? ______ List the words that describe this side of your brain.
Define words that you are unable to mentally paraphrase.
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According to this site, what percent “Right Brain” are you? ______ List the words that describe this side of your brain.
Define words that you are unable to mentally paraphrase.
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Test B:
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Go to http://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3178 to complete the 12-question survey. Click “I Agree...”
and Take Test.
Note: it is geared toward adults, so you will have to use your imagination a bit!
You will also want to look up some words in the survey such as snide and conscientious. Please open a tab
for www.learnersdictionary.com and expand your vocabulary!
Write 3-6 summarizing sentences to tell about your results from this site.
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