The Brain Left Hemisphere vs. Right Hemisphere

Vocab: Hemisphere Hemi = Half (Greek) Sphere = Circle Hemisphere= half of a sphere or circle What else has hemispheres?

Left/Right Hemisphere Specialization LEFT Analytic thought –Step by step process Logic –Conclusions based upon a logical or consecutive order Language –Using words to name/describe/define Math & Science –Number use, awareness of time, symbols, facts & linear reasoning RIGHT Spatial Reasoning Face Recognition Intuition –Insight based upon incomplete patterns or “hunches” Creativity –Demonstrative with minimal word use, understanding relationships Art & Music –Putting pieces together to form “wholes”

Left/Right Hemisphere Specialization LEFTRIGHT

Say the COLOR not the word PURPLE GREEN YELLOW BLUE RED ORANGE

Hemispheres Crisscross Information received from one side of the body is transmitted to the opposite hemisphere.

Left Brained or Right Brained? People often believe they are either right or left brained –“I’m right brained because I’m creative” BUT your Brain works best when the 2 hemispheres work together

Left & Right: Working Together Both hemispheres can: analyze sensory data perform memory functions learn new information form thoughts make decisions The way you use these abilities determines a large part of your personality and behavior

Left & Right: Working Together By the time we, are two years old, one hemisphere begins to dominate decision- making processes Communication between the two halves is possible due to the corpus callosum and this process continues to improve until the age of 15

Corpus Callosum Connects the two hemispheres of the brain –Significantly larger in musicians –Slightly larger in left handed people –The bridge of the brain

Split-Brain Operations The corpus callosum is cut Helps people who suffer from severe epilepsy –They have severe seizures –Cutting the corpus callosum prevents the seizures from spreading, reducing the severity BUT the surgery has some subtle effects on functioning…

After Split-Brain Operations If a patient is holding an object in their right hand and asked to describe it they can But if they have an object in their left hand they have a hard time explaining what the object is WHY Do you think this is?

Ways to Study the Brain Accidents –Phineas Gage –Plasticity: brain’s ability to reorganize information If one area of the brain is damaged, other areas in time, may reorganize and take over functions of the damaged area

Ways to Study the Brain Electrical Stimulation of the Brain Electroencephalogram (EEG) –A device that records the electrical activity of the brain Scans –CAT Scans –MRI

More Ways To Study The Brain Get into groups of four –The groups you were in to build the brain models Each group will receive a topic from section 2 Create a poster with key terms and facts Present to the class