Buzz
The brain is split into two hemispheres, but can you really be classified as either right-brained or left-brained?
Personality
Whether you're a creative, 'right-brained' individual or a logical, 'left-brained' thinker, neither hemisphere truly dominates the other when it comes to defining your personality. In fact, most neuroscientists never fully embraced this concept. Your brain is far too efficient to have one side perform better or harder than the other.
Despite its flaws, the left-right brain theory has endured for many years. It gained popularity when Nobel laureate Roger W. Sperry began researching epilepsy. Sperry found that severing the corpus callosum, a bundle of fibers connecting the two hemispheres, could reduce seizures. However, it also led to unusual behaviors, causing Sperry to believe that each hemisphere of the brain was responsible for different functions. Prior to this, scientists thought the left side of the brain was the dominant one, and the right side was considered "a dormant partner."
Sperry cautioned against interpreting his findings as absolute truth. He described the theory as "an idea in general with which it is very easy to run wild." But indeed, it did run wild. Media outlets jumped on Sperry's discovery, spreading the myth that the two halves of the brain functioned in complete isolation from each other.
Physiology
The reality is this: Regardless of your personality type, both sides of your brain are active nearly all the time. Research from the University of Utah has shown that brain activity is nearly identical in both hemispheres. One side does not outdo the other; instead, they work together, complementing each other.
Brain mapping studies confirm that distinct areas of the brain control different functions. However, no side is generally superior to the other, nor does one side dominate particular skills. Take math, for example, which is often thought of as a "left-brained" skill. Both hemispheres contribute to math expertise: the left side aids with counting, while the right side helps with estimation. In language, the left hemisphere processes syntax, while the right interprets subtler cues, such as tone and inflection. Together, the hemispheres enhance efficiency.
The American Physiological Association suggests that research shows more creative individuals often have brains that are less lateralized, meaning both hemispheres are more involved in processing. However, the left-brain/right-brain debate is far from straightforward: Some people have brains that are 'reversed,' or they may even be missing half of their brain, yet they still function quite well.
