Brain Lateralization – Logical Left vs Creative Right

Broad generalizations are often made in popular psychology about one side or the other having characteristic labels, such as “logical” for the left side or “creative” for the right. These labels need to be treated carefully; although a lateral dominance is measurable, both hemispheres contribute to both kinds of processes.

In psychology and neurobiology, the theory is based on what is known as the lateralization of brain function. So does one side of the brain really control specific functions? Are people either left-brained or right-brained? Like many popular psychology myths, this one has a basis in fact that has been dramatically distorted and exaggerated.

Language functions such as grammar, vocabulary and literal meaning are typically lateralized to the left hemisphere, especially in right handed individuals. Although 95% of right-handed people have left-hemisphere dominance for language, 18.8% of left-handed people have right-hemisphere dominance for language function. Additionally, 19.8% of the left-handed have bilateral language functions. Even within various language functions (e.g., semantics, syntax, prosody), degree (and even hemisphere) of dominance may differ.

The processing of visual and auditory stimuli, spatial manipulation, facial perception, and artistic ability are represented bilaterally, but may show right hemisphere superiority. Numerical estimation, comparison and online calculation depend on bilateral parietal regions while exact calculation and fact retrieval are associated with left parietal regions, perhaps due to their ties to linguistic processing.  Dyscalculia is a neurological syndrome associated with damage to the left temporo-parietal junction. This syndrome is associated with poor numeric manipulation, poor mental arithmetic skill, and the inability to either understand or apply mathematical concepts.

The right brain-left brain theory grew out of 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 collosum 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.

Depression is linked with a hyperactive right hemisphere, with evidence of selective involvement in “processing negative emotions, pessimistic thoughts and unconstructive thinking styles”, as well as vigilance, arousal and self-reflection, and a relatively hypoactive left hemisphere, “specifically involved in processing pleasurable experiences” and “relatively more involved in decision-making processes”. Additionally, “left hemisphere lesions result in an omissive response bias or error pattern whereas right hemisphere lesions result in a commissive response bias or error pattern.” The delusional misidentification syndromes, reduplicative paramnesia and Capgras delusion are also often the result of right hemisphere lesions. There is evidence that the right hemisphere is more involved in processing novel situations, while the left hemisphere is most involved when routine or well-rehearsed processing is called for.

Infographic from Mindjet

Taylor, I. & Taylor, M. M. (1990). Psycholinguistics: Learning and using Language. Pearson. ISBN 978-0-13-733817-7. p. 367
Beaumont, J.G. (2008). Introduction to Neuropsychology, Second Edition. The Guilford Press. ISBN 978-1-59385-068-5. Chapter 7

Ross, E., & Monnot, M. (2008). Neurology of affective prosody and its functional–anatomic organization in right hemisphere Brain and Language, 104 (1), 51-74 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2007.04.007

George MS, Parekh PI, Rosinsky N, Ketter TA, Kimbrell TA, Heilman KM, Herscovitch P, & Post RM (1996). Understanding emotional prosody activates right hemisphere regions. Archives of neurology, 53 (7), 665-70 PMID: 8929174

Dehaene, S. (1999). Sources of Mathematical Thinking: Behavioral and Brain-Imaging Evidence Science, 284 (5416), 970-974 DOI: 10.1126/science.284.5416.970

Dehaene, S., Piazza, M., Pinel, P., & Cohen, L. (2003). THREE PARIETAL CIRCUITS FOR NUMBER PROCESSING Cognitive Neuropsychology, 20 (3-6), 487-506 DOI: 10.1080/02643290244000239

Hecht, D. (2010). Depression and the hyperactive right-hemisphere Neuroscience Research, 68 (2), 77-87 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2010.06.013

Devinsky, O. (2009). Delusional misidentifications and duplications: Right brain lesions, left brain delusions Neurology, 72 (1), 80-87 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000338625.47892.74

Goldberg, E. (2009). The New Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes in a Complex World. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-532940-7.