In our head, protected by the skull, a very important part of the nervous system is located that constitutes the control center of almost all the necessary vital activities; This organ is the encephalon and it is divided into several parts, the most voluminous of which is the brain, subdivided into two hemispheres: left and right.
We see that apparently both hemispheres are the same, but do they have the same functions? It is common to hear in our environment that the right hemisphere of the brain is more developed in creative people. On the other hand, people who have a greater development of the left hemisphere have a high logical and mathematical intelligence. Is this really so? Or is it a myth?
We will try to find an answer to this question in the following Psychology-Online article: we will talk about the different functions and characteristics of the right and left cerebral hemispheres and we will solve some of the doubts you may have about this complex organ.
The brain hemispheres Are the
The hemispheres are made up of the cerebral cortex, which is a highly folded layer of neural tissue. Under the cortex are the hippocampus, the basal ganglia, and the olfactory bulb.
The most important parts of the brain are the hemispheres and lobes. In each hemisphere they are anatomically distinguished six parts:
- Frontal lobe
- The parietal lobe
- The occipital lobe
- The temporal lobe
- Insula
- The limbic system
Here you will find more information about the parts of the brain and the cerebral cortex.
Is it true that the left hemisphere is in charge of the artistic part and the right of the logic? First of all, you need to remember that both hemispheres are connected to each other at different points throughout the brain. On the other hand, Although each one has its own functions, others are shared, that is, they develop in both hemispheres. Furthermore, the place where a certain function is performed is not always permanent and may be subject to different modifications. This is the case, for example, of some brain injuries. In this type of situation, the areas adjacent to the injury could acquire the functions that, at the beginning, the damaged area exerted. This is what is known as brain plasticity.
However, this functional shaping has a certain limit, so that a brain with a large damaged area, could not always regain lost functions. In any case, stimulation of the different regions is necessary to achieve this, which can be carried out through different exercises and activities such as reading, crosswords or puzzles, among others.
Therefore, Although each area has a more or less specific function, it is not something so exact and unchangeable as was formerly believed.
Let's go, then, with the characteristics and functions of the left hemisphere. As we mentioned, this hemisphere is an expert in the most logical part.
- Has capabilities related to numerical, mathematical-logical, verbal and symbolic thinking.
- It is also in charge of the different faculties related to the expression (language), reading and writing.
- It is the hemisphere that is in charge of analyzing, reasoning, dealing with learning and processing information.
And what would be, therefore, the functions that the right hemisphere would have? This hemisphere, for its part, is responsible for:
- Functions related to imagination, creativity, emotions, feelings and also regarding the spatial functions.
- In addition, the right hemisphere is also responsible for more intuitive, spontaneous and subjective thinking.
- On the other hand, musical skills would also be located in this area.
As we commented at the beginning of the article, there are different basic functions that we can find in both hemispheres, among which are memory, mathematical calculation, information processing sensory (hearing, touch, taste ...) or learning, although they develop to a greater extent in one or other.
Within each hemisphere there are, in turn, different areas.
Frontal lobe
In the most forward part, the one that would be in the area of the forehead, we would find the frontal lobe, which is in charge of executive functions; that is, of the reasoning, self-control, planning, abstract thinking…
Parietal lobe
On the sides and, specifically, in the upper part, is the parietal lobe. This area processes the information received by the sense organs (especially the one related to the visual and the auditory). It is also in charge of verbal language and mathematical processing. In addition, it intervenes in sphincter control, in episodic memory and in the afferents and efferences to the lower extremities, that is, in the transmission of energy and blood to them.
Temporal lobe
Just below the anterior is the temporal lobe, which is responsible for things related to the hearing and with the processing and production of language.
Occipital lobe
Finally, in the back of the brain we find the occipital lobe, basic for the processing of vision. This area also takes care of the most creative thinking and imagination.
Insula and limbic lobe
In addition to these four lobes, we find two additional lobes in the brain: the insula and the limbic lobe. Both are found in the innermost parts of the brain, so they would not be seen with the naked eye. The insula is responsible for the processing of the emotional information and the bodily sensations and the representation they have at the affective level, while the The limbic lobe houses the functions related to the basic instincts of the human being, that is, the innate learnings; These include hunger, anger, fear, as well as sexual instincts and the regulation of various physiological functions.
How was it possible to find out the function of each area of the brain? To a large extent studying what happens in patients in whom an injury or disease has rendered any of these areas useless. For example, a stroke that affects the temporal areas of the left hemisphere can cause aphasia (inability to process verbal and written language) and Contralateral hemiplegia (that is, paralysis of the opposite side of the body, in this case the right side), which tells us what are the functions that this regulates area.
Various investigations have been carried out on the dominance of one cerebral hemisphere over the other. This leads to laterality, that is, the preference to use one half of the body or the other, which is why there are left-handed and right-handed people. In this article we explain the Herrmann test of brain dominance.
It has been concluded that left-handed people have greater creative capacity and are more prone to autoimmune and neuropsychiatric diseases. On the other hand, the hypotheses about the origin and consequences of cerebral laterality have not been corroborated. In short, much remains to be investigated.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Right and left cerebral hemispheres: characteristics, functions and differences, we recommend that you enter our category of Neuropsychology.
Right and left cerebral hemispheres: characteristics, functions and differences
