Free Essay

The Left Brain vs the Right Brain in Learning

In:

Submitted By michaelreazer
Words 1424
Pages 6
The Left Brain vs. the Right Brain: How Does This Impact Learning

COLL 100

AMU
Janice Flegle

The Left Brain vs. the Right Brain: How Does This Impact Learning

Everyone has a brain and without it they would not be alive. As with anything, everyone’s brain is different and how someone learns can be influenced by their brain. This paper will discuss a basic biology of the brain, the right brain, the left brain, and brain injury. Hopefully this information will help to determine how learning can be done and possible ways to improve learning skills. The first thing discussed will be the basics of how the brain works. The brain is made up of neurons that form tracts throughout the brain and these tracts carry messages to various parts of the brain (Living with brain injury, 2012). Even something as simple as breathing is controlled by the brain and that is done automatically. The brain is divided into multiple sections called lobes and they include the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, the cerebellum, and the brain stem (Living with brain injury, 2012). Each section, or lobe, has different functions, such as the occipital lobe controls vision, the cerebellum helps us keep our balance, and the temporal lobe stores our memories (Living with brain injury, 2012). When the left and right brain are used together the whole brain is utilized. With whole brain thinking the greater the connection between both halves, the chances for learning and creativity are increased (Maramonte, 2011). Now, what if only the left side of the brain was used, or only the right side of the brain was used? The left and right brain control different functions for the human body. The right side of the brain can direct attention to both the right and left sides of space while the left side has a strong bias to the contralateral side of space, allowing for better processing of information by the right side of the brain (Hugdahl & Davidson, 2002, p. 269). Some common characteristics of a right brain learner are: not planning ahead, skips around in his/her work, prefers projects and discussions rather than using a workbook, and things are figured out from very ambiguous evidence (Right brain vs. left brain, n.d.). Based off of a normal school experience, a right brain learner may be slowed down because school is structured, not much jumping around, and everything is planned for when the information will be taught, such as lesson plans. A right-brained learner prefers a visual model to better understand a concept, learns better when they can see, feel, and touch things, and seem to thrive with groups or hands-on activities (Daymut, 2009). It seems the right side of the brain loves to be hands on, now how the left side differs will be discussed. Characteristics of a left brain learner include: memorizing best by repetition, works well independently, makes lists, and likes to have structure (Right brain vs. left brain, n.d.). Someone who enjoys school can relate much better to being a left-brained learner. They enjoy working by themselves and not having anyone slow them down and also love using repetition to memorize things. The way a school day is set up seems like it is much easier for the left-brained learner to thrive and continue through the day with no problems. A left-brained learner will learn easier if a list is provided, they love to have written directions to follow, and enjoy working step by step during activities such as worksheets (Daymut, 2009). If someone is a left-brained learner steps can be taken to help them thrive in a particular environment, or vice-versa for a right-brained learner. Neither the left or right side of the brain is better or less able than the other, they differ in function, is a conclusion based off of many studies, which I feel is correct (Webb, 1983, p. 5). The goal should be to make a happy medium where techniques for a right and left brain learner are comingled into the curriculum. Now that the left and right sides of the brain were discussed, what happens when the brain is damaged will be discussed next. The brain is a very important part of everyone’s lives that helps to sustain the basic essentials needed to live. Something as important as the brain needs to be taken care of, but when it is damaged problems do occur. When the left side of the brain is damaged it can cause difficulties in speaking or understanding language, impaired logic, decreased control over the right-side body movements, and even catastrophic reactions such as depression or anxiety (Living with brain injury, 2012). This seems severe because they may lose the ability to communicate with other people, they may not be able to speak or comprehend what the other person is saying. When the right side of the brain is damaged it can cause inattention to the left side of the body, decreased awareness of deficits, visual memory deficits, altered creativity and music perception, and decreased control over the left-side of the body (Living with brain injury, 2012). Music is relaxing to most people and to have that changed would be devastating to them. When the injuries are scattered throughout the brain, it can cause deduced thinking speed, confusion, reduced attention and concentration, fatigue, and impaired cognitive skills in all areas (Living with brain injury, 2012). Injuries scattered throughout the brain seem to be the most severe. With reduced attention, confusion, and fatigue it is difficult to live a normal life, they would not understand what is going on. The brain can recover but the process can be long and difficult. Brain injuries are a serious issue and with any injury time is a huge factor in recovery. Some early stages of brain injuries include a coma where the person is unconscious and unresponsive, a vegetative state with sleep-wake cycles and briefly orients to visual stimulation, and a minimally conscious state where the person is partially conscious, responds to commands, and shows emotion (Novack & Bushnik, 2002). The first six months are where recovery is the fastest and continues up until two years, after two years recovery slows down substantially (Novack & Bushnik, 2002). Brain injuries can occur from car accidents, playing sports, even falling down the stairs. No one is protected from getting an injury and an injury will definitely impact learning. There are 10 levels of cognitive functioning for recovery from level 1- no response through level 10- purposeful-appropriate/modified independent (Novack & Bushnik, 2002). Some people fully recover from injuries, some partially recover, and some never recover, brain injuries should not be taken lightly. I have discussed basic brain biology, the right and left brain, and brain injury and recovery. Whether someone is more left-brained or right-brained the whole brain is needed for learning. The best way to learn would be to decide how they learn best and apply those techniques to the information they are learning to better understand and remember it. The more comfortable someone is learning the easier and more fun learning will become.

References
Daymut, J. (2009). Right brain vs. left brain- what's the difference? Retrieved from http://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/pdf/202_RightBrainLeftBrain.pdf
Hugdahl, K., & Davidson, R. (2002). The asymmetrical brain. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/apus/docDetail.action?docID=10225254
Living with brain injury. (2012, October 12). Retrieved from http://www.biausa.org/living-with-brain-injury.htm
Maramonte N. (2011, July 17). Left versus right brain and how it impacts learning. Retrieved from http://education.iseek.com/iseek/clean/result.html?tr=http%3a%2f%2fwww.studymode.com%2fessays%2fLeft-Versus-Right-Brain-And-How-782277.html&tq=http%3a%2f%2feducation.iseek.com%2fiseek%2fsearch.nav.html%3fc%3d0d873b31az146df8c3f3b%26et%3d%26ex%3d(x3)(x4)(x5)(v0)%26p%3d1%26rs%3d%26rsd%3d&title=Left+Versus+Right+Brain+and+How+It+Impacts+Learning+...&q=The+left+brain+vs.+the+right+brain%3a+How+does+this+impact+learning
Novack, T., & Bushnik, T. (2002, January 1). Understanding TBI: Part 3 - the recovery process. Retrieved from http://www.msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Understanding-TBI/The-Recovery-Process-For-Traumatic-Brain-Injury
Right brain vs. left brain. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://arkansashomeschool.org/index.php/free-info/special-needs-students/right-brain-vs-left-brain/
Webb, G. (1983, April 1). Left/right brains, teammates in learning. Exceptional Children, 49(6), 508-515.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Left Brain V the Right Brain

...The left brain vs the right brain 1 The left brain vs the right brain: How does this impact learning? The left brain vs the right brain The left brain vs the right brain: How does this impact learning? I will describe in detail the impacts from the left side of the brain vs the right side of the brain. I will also provide some descriptions and expressions of the left side of the brain vs the right side of the brain and its functions. The left side of the brain has several functions from which decisions are based. Those functions are reactions, mental magnitude and emotional expressions. All of these functions show some type of reaction to the left side of the brain and how it forms a decision. The first reaction is based upon how your expression. For example, when you are in an accident your first reaction may be shock because you didn’t expect it. Your brain sends a signal forming a type of reaction which can create an unexpected result. The reactions of how you see things, hear things and respond to them are related to the left side of the brain. The mental function is similar in its findings with the left side of the brain. It’s a mental state of being that you have when making a decision prompting from the left side of the brain. An expression of the face displays a lot when you react to something. A frown, smile or laugh shows expression which is formed by a signal from the brain. There are also studies that show that the left vs the right side of the brain has...

Words: 969 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Left vs Right

...Left Brain Compared to Right Brain Joel M. Flores COLL 100-190 American Military University Shannon Voyles Left Compared Right Sided Brain Learners Left and right sided brain learners learn through different pathways of input to comprehend. When considering emotions both sides of the brain are responsible for emotions; the right side is known for negative emotions and the left side is known for happy emotions. The left side of the brain is responsible for language and math learning. As a left sided brain learner a person is a logical detail learner that focuses on facts and rules of language. The left sided brain learner is also focused on math and science in relation to pattern perception. These individuals are able to learn strategies through numbers, objects or verbal cues. The right side of the brain is responsible for nonverbal communication, recognizing shapes/patterns and auditory recognition. Right sided brain learners always are trying to take in the larger picture of issues and are often known as the philosopher of the learning group. There are some that do not believe that individuals are left or right sided brain learners at all, but have brain that developed differently and compensate for the different development. Brain regions with more gray matter in one hemisphere may develop lateralization of brain functions ascribed to those regions. Alternately, if a functional asymmetry develops in a brain region, it is possible that there may...

Words: 1938 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Left Brain vs. Right Brain

...Left Brain vs. Right Brain “According to the theory of left-brain or right-brain dominance, each side of the brain controls different types of thinking.” (Cherry 2012) From books to television programs, you've probably heard the phrase mentioned that people are either right brained or left brained thinkers or perhaps you have gone online to take a test to see which one you are. Psychologist have been researching the brain to try and understand learning capability’s that can help with such things as epilepsy, dyslexia and other seizure and learning problems. The right brain-left brain theory came from 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 (the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain) could reduce or eliminate seizures. However, Sperry also discovered that after the two parts were no longer connected, the patients could no longer 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 the left side of the brain is used to process certain information such as language. When researching the different sides of the brain, it has been noted that each side is capable of leaning the same things just in a different way. The right side of the brain is best at expressive and creative tasks. The right side...

Words: 838 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Hormones and Behaviors

...client recognize the wrong way of thinking and replace this with positive thoughts. This approach would be to include helping them to reestablish goals and built on the idea of operant as well as respondent and social and classical thinking. There is also a technique called Dialectical behavior which is where the therapist and the client discuss issues that have happened during the week and the therapists helps the client work on improving these in the clients life and also decide which are the most important to do first, this may include emotions and social environments. LEFT SIDE VS. RIGHT SIDE 1 When I decided to choose this topic as the topic for my final paper I knew that I would have to do quite a bit of research on the left and right side of the brain to further understand the individual functions of each side and how each side impacts learning. I was quite surprised when I learned exactly how the brain works and how each side impacts...

Words: 1097 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Left Brain vs Right Brain

...The Left Brain vs. The Right Brain: How does this Impact Learning The brain is one of the vital components of the nervous system. It is also one of the most involved and extraordinary parts amongst a variety of organs in the human being. When it comes to body weight it only responsible for two to three percent, but when it comes to body energy it uses twenty through twenty- three percent (Sprenger 1999). When the mind tries to do too many things at once it may refuse to cooperate, because the brain is always seeking information. The brain is made up of two hemispheres which are the left and the right hemisphere. They talk through the corpus callosum, which is just a bulky group of fibers (Sprenger 1999). Although both hemispheres are the same in their appearance they have different functions. The left hemisphere of the brain is more of an analysis, linear thinking, ordering, and it require locating organization within everything that it does. “The left hemisphere is also an expert at in order processing, analyzing all received information, even illustration information” (Webb 1983). With the left hemisphere we try to create logic of the world, and create peace to it (Faith 2003). So in other words when we are thinking, we are using this side of the hemisphere. It also controls the right part of the body and receives information from that side too (Webb 1983). In compare with the left hemisphere, the right hemisphere is alarmed by the complete image and the spatial...

Words: 774 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Kate Chopin

...Left vs. Right Brain Diana Webb COLL100 AMU Sharie Adamson Left vs. Right Brain The brain is above and marvelous to all other organs. It does not just controls the human thought's, but it also controls the entire human body as a whole. The brain is divided into two sections left and right hemisphere that controls different functions like thinking, physical movement, and controls all organs. The left and right hemisphere is made with approximately 100 billion cells ( Johnson n.d.). Reason is so important is because it sends out information to the organs, it initiates bodily movement, it controls and holds memory. Hemispheres and Corpus Collusum Most individuals are stuck with the myth of the left handed person that uses the left side of the hemisphere. According to Jeff Anderson, the author and professor of neuroradiology at the University of Utah says: "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” (Novotney, 2013 pg 4). Studies have also showed that there is no evidence of the brain being stronger on the right or left hemisphere The left hemisphere has its own special functions. The left hemisphere dominates the functions of the brain. It controls speech, language processing and logical reasoning. The left hemisphere is not capable of handling vision, touch or identifying objects. The left hemisphere controls the entire right side of the brain. The right...

Words: 1144 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Left Brain vs Right Brian

...Left Brain Vs. Right Brian The brain is an incredibly complex organ with differentiated parts that work in mysterious ways. It’s also a self-organized structure that is highly connected. According to Eric Jensen, author of The New Paradigm of Teaching, “Much of the original work of Nobel Laureate Roger Spietry, who discovered the functioning differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, remains valid today. But the spin put on his research also remains today (Eric J. 2008).” Today research still goes on trying to achieve more knowledge about the brain. Ask you, how the left does and right brain impacts learning. In this paper I’ll be sharing with you the fact from research and how it impacts our learning. Research identifies the left-brain as the “academic brain,” because educators generally emphasize its processes in the traditional everyday classroom, resulting in certain groups using hemisphere specialization to explain limitations of traditional learning. Although the left brain may be more dominant for calculation, math and logical abilities, it has no biological mandate for language, but it does contain soft biases in information processing that are preferential to language skills. The right brain is the side that is most known for its intuitive, holistic, and synthesizing. The right hemisphere is intuitive and responds to demonstrated instructions. It also problem solves with hunches and looks for patterns and configurations. The...

Words: 284 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Salient Signals Lab Report

... The brain happens to be the uttermost important section of your body it controls every little movement, heartbeat, and the blood flow in your body. There are two components of the brain and that goes for both humans and animals too, they are separated into left and right sides and or halves. The left and right side of the brain has two different tasks and characteristics. The left side of the brain is the logical side of the brain it works with the verbal, digital, symbolic, and mathematical parts of your thinking process and reactions. This side of the brain is the side people benefit in school or at work or even being a teacher, going shopping and many other daily tasks. This is the non creative and musical side. You typically use this side of the brain in more serious moments. Unlike the right side of the brain. “ The right side of the...

Words: 1503 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Cognitive Science

...threshold to fire Turing test: computational Visual fields: left visual field: nasal left eye, temporal right eye, right hemisphere Right visual field: nasal right eye, temporal left eye Color blindness: missing cones; common: no L or M cone Cones not function at night One class of rods, see in the night Opponent processing: Red/green: (L-M): differences between those 2 cones/ if miss L, then can’t tell red from green Blue/yellow: (s-s+m/2) Explicit: conscious Episodic/semantic Implicit: skill memory LTP: stronger synaptic connection Long term: grow more receptors on post synapse anatomical Short term: amount of neurons Turing machine Single vs double dissociation Single: one manipulation Double: two manipulations Visual angle Grandmother cell a lot of cells respond for Halle Berry Do not respond only to Halle Berry Math: impossibly large number of neurons Only 100 images do not necessarily show that those cells only respond to one concept Size constancy: If no depth cue/ with out size constancy; then same visual angle same proximal size and same perceived size. s Alternative: different difficulties of those 2 tasks Mediate by separate part of brain regions Color constancy Binding: different percepts What is intelligence? (Cartesian) Dualism, identity theory, functionalism The Turing test (and objections to it) Aunt Bertha machine Linear vs. exponential scaling Dualism: mind is nonphysical substance ...

Words: 4004 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

70 Year Old Brain

...Ever wonder why someone acts the way they do? Ever wonder how their brain works? The brain and gender have a lot to do with that. I hope to inform people and explain or answer some of the questions they might have about the brain or how or why someone acts the way they do. Multitasking, size, behavior and maturity level, 13 year old brain vs. 70 year old brain, and growth all play a factor in this. Multitasking is something the female brain can do at a higher level. Research has shown that the male brain just can't simply handle doing more then a couple things at a time. The female brain has better connections from the left to the right side of the brain. Men are proven to be better at learning new things faster. For example parking a car....

Words: 533 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Nueropsychology

...FUNCTIONS OF BRAIN PARTS - AMYGDALA: memory, emotion, aggression - HYPOTHALAMUS: basic biological functions (hunger thirst, temperature, sexual arousal, emotion - MEDULLA: vital functions (breathing, heart rate) - CEREBELLUM: coordinated movement, language, thinking - THALAMUS: switching station for sensory info; memory - SPINAL CORD: transmits signals between brain & rest of body CORTICAL HOMUNCULUS (Sensory & Motor) - picture representation of the anatomical divisions of primary motor & primary somatosensory cortex - “distortion” not based on size of body part greater representation = greater sensitivity - areas have to do with motor neurons DORSAL ANTERIOR -------(< ‘ )-------POSTERIOR (ROSTRAL) (CAUDAL) VENTRAL LATERAL -------- < : )8( MEDIAL )~ -------- LATERAL METHODS OF LOCALIZATION - assign specific functions to particular places in the cerebral cortex - LESION STUDIES: any pathologic or traumatic discontinuity of brain tissue - SURGERY: Wada Test (anesthetize one hem), Tumor Removal, Split Brain - INFERENCE STUDIES (talk while balancing broom) - FUNCTIONAL IMAGING - PET (positron emission tomography): track blood flow associated w/ brain activity; used to assess physiology, including glucose & oxygen metabolism, and presence of specific neurotransmitters - SPECT (single photon emission...

Words: 4014 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Visul Imagery

...imagery is more complex. Our minds manage memories (pictures), which are known to be on the right side of the brain, (visual) and processes information with language which resides in the left side of the brain, (verbal). This is done through visual and verbal imagery. The information which passes through the brain as though something is being perceived, when in reality there is nothing really happening is known to be Visual Imagery. For coping with upsetting occurrences, or bettering physical performances and or establishing desensitization hierarchies, visual imagery is being utilized. People learning to manage their stress may be guided through visualizations as a way to take a mental vacation out of a stressful situation or trauma. Those who are able to visualize, think more concretely, personalize information, tend to be field dependent, process information holistically, and tend to be introverted. In addition, those who are better at visual imagery tend to excel at spatial interpretation tasks such as interpreting graphs, charts or pictures, mechanical drawing and measuring. The saying goes; one picture is worth a thousand words however, some images cannot always be expressed easily into words. For me, I feel that I am more verbal than visual. I can take a word that is heard and place it into a mental image of the word and anticipate the image. This means I use my left brain. The word Verbal Imagery is defined as a mental image representing a word as heard, as seen...

Words: 541 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Mrswww

...researchers use to summarize their sets of data. You will learn how to produce a distribution of scores and how to graph the distribution. After descriptions of the measures of central tendency (mode, median, and mean) and variability (range and standard deviation), you will be able to manipulate the scores in a distribution to see how each score affects the descriptive statistics for that distribution. Hemispheric Specialization Purpose: To explain how research on split-brain patients has helped us understand the special abilities of the two halves of the brain. Summary: This activity describes what researchers have learned about the special abilities of the left and right sides of the brain. After a brief review of the way that information is carried from the main sensory channels to the brain, you will test the responses of a simulated “split-brain” patient to demonstrate that, for most right-handers, the main language center is located in the left hemisphere, while the right hemisphere is specialized for spatial tasks. Then you will carry out the same experiments with a simulated “normal” individual to...

Words: 5385 - Pages: 22

Free Essay

Psych Test

...PRESCHOOL Just look at this→think of examples for all of them Chapter 7: Physical & Cognitive Development • Growth & ability of the body Right/ left handedness emerges early Bone ossification Gross motor skills • Brain lateralization—certain cognitive functions are located more in 1 hemisphere of brain than other→ become more pronounced during preschool years o Right vs. Left hemisphere specialization • Left hemisphere- speaking, reading, thinking & reasoning • Right Hemisphere- Spatial relationships, pattern recognition & emotional expression (global processing) o What are examples of skills associated with the right and left hemisphere? o Some specialization of each hemisphere, BUT each can perform most tasks of the other. EX: right hemisphere does some language processing and does important role in language comprehension • Piaget’s preoperational stage of cognitive development (early childhood: 2—6) o Children at this time increase in use of symbolic thinking, mental reasoning, use of concepts.. Representational thought • EX: seeing moms car keys(symbol) prompts u to ask “are we going to the store?” • Primarily defined by limitations. Characterized by centration o Aren’t capable of operations→ organized/formal mental process that develops in school-aged children o Confuses own POV w/ others & cant consider multiple characteristics of stuff o Period of centration- concentrating on 1 limited aspect of stimulus & ignoring other stimulus. (EX: a cat w/ dog...

Words: 1374 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Conditioning Vs Behaviorism

...stimuli are regularly paired in close succession: the response originally given to the second stimulus comes to be given to the first” (2). Pavlov’s Dogs. Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist in the 1890s who did studies on dogs creating “Pavolovian Conditioning” also know as classical conditioning. In his studies he began to look at the correlation between dogs salivating in response to being fed. A dog salivating in response to being fed is not a learned trait but a reflex. The dog salivating is an unconditioned response, which means it requires no learning (3). Pavlov started measuring the salivation secretions in response to being fed (3). Through his studies Pavlov saw that any object or event that the dog associated with being fed would make the dog salivate. “Classical conditioning is "classical" in that it is the first systematic study of basic laws of learning / conditioning” (3)....

Words: 1528 - Pages: 7