Right or Left Brain Dominant

Jennifer Hammersmark
Nov 4 · 5 min read

Is it all just a myth?

photo taken in 2017 outside an education centre in Portugal

For years I have taken pride in educating my clients, especially the younger ones, on the difference between being right or left brain dominant. It has been a wonderful way of turning around negative beliefs that people can have about themselves, such as “I suck at math, I am so stupid”.

I would smile when I heard my distraught client express these sentiments, then proceed to explain to them that that simply was not true. They were not stupid. Do you like English? Are you creative? Yes? Well then, that proves it. You are just more right brained, and that is why math is harder for you.

It was such a joy to see them light up with this new-found information. They would begin to understand that there are some people that are just naturally more inclined towards logic and numbers; while others may enjoy writing essays and poetry, possibly more musically inclined, or like to paint or draw. After all, we are all different, and as such, we are good at different things.

Photo by Victoria Bilsborough on Unsplash

Then I encountered a third group of people that rocked at both. Math and numbers were easy for them, but they were also creative and artistic. Hmmmm, perhaps another group who were neither right nor left brain dominant, but rather strong in both, or falling right in the middle? I certainly suppose that is also possible. I presumed that this was more rare, but certainly possible.

I met someone recently who clearly falls in this “both” category. So much so, that she has a double major for her Bachelor’s Degree: Computer Science and Art. Well then, that is some combination! When she is not computer programming or solving a math problem, you might find her at her easel painting, or creating a piece of furniture out of cardboard.

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

As common practice for blog writing, I began my research for references to this right/left brain stuff. But what did I find instead? That there is no scientific foundation for this theory. How can that be? Everyone knows this is a thing, don’t they?!

I found this article from Healthline that does a nice job explaining of how the brain works, including the differences between the two sides. However, it also clearly references some scholarly research that proves that we do not have a dominant brain, like we have a dominant hand. Please don’t ask me to explain their research or outcomes, because even after a couple of passes, this girl’s brain cannot compute their lingo and findings. (It must tap into that “other” side that I don’t have, so you will have to read it for yourself.)

I must admit, at this point I am feeling like a bit of a farce. How can I have been telling people this “fact” for so long, only to now find out that it is not true? How can I have taken that photo above, on the window of a learning facility, if this is not fact? Mama mia.

Upon further digging, I found a “scientifically validated” Left-Brain/Right-Brain Test. So I took it, of course. Can such a test exist, if indeed this phenomenon doesn’t? (rhetorical question, btw) Surprise! I am almost smack in the middle. Yep, I am one of those people who rocks both sides of my brain. Theoretically, this does make sense to me. Don’t tell anyone, but I am a numbers freak. I think in numbers, and anything to do with math is easy for me. I took physics and bookkeeping in school as I knew they would be easy credits. However, I also love writing poetry, and I enjoyed my English classes.

Photo by Trust “Tru” Katsande on Unsplash

I wouldn’t necessarily say that I am particularly artistic, but I can create a mean homemade soup out of the dredges of the refrigerator! Perhaps that was more survival than creative, though, as I did grow up on welfare.

Another secret: my Bachelor’s degree is in Computer Information Systems. Yep, thought I might be a programmer. However, my graduate and doctorate degrees in psychology were WAY more interesting. Like I said, this “test” result does make sense to me.

I also threw the test at a few others in my life. All in all, I would say the results seemed to describe them fairly well? However, the description following the number you receive seems to have very few variations. The same description was given for a few different scores, perhaps applied to a range of numbers, I guess. Sounding more like a horoscope now, which has been said to rely on the Barnum Effect. I also could not find anyone who took the test who scored way to the left. All either middle, or more to the right. Not sure that this has really resolved my dilemma at all?

The origin of this left/right brain goes back to the 1960s with Roger Wolcott Sperry, whose investigative work into cerebral hemispheres won him a share of the 1981 Nobel Prize . Impressive I would say, but again, anytime I read a reference about him, the words ‘dated research’ seem to appear with it.

Photo by Ariel Besagar on Unsplash

I am not sure if I can continue to use this right/left brain terminology with confidence any longer. I cannot ignore the research, or the lack of it, as the case may be. However, I do love having conversations with people who tend to be down on themselves, and turn their thinking around. It is important for all of us to embrace who we are and our gifts, and not define ourselves by our deficits. This right/left brain phrasing has worked so nicely to this end, so is there any harm in continuing to use it? Maybe not. I just might have to add a caveat in the future.

Mind Your Madness

Dr. Jen uses her own experiences, skiing, books, movies, and real people to help curb the pains of life

Jennifer Hammersmark

Written by

Writer — Skier — Business Owner — Therapist

Mind Your Madness

Dr. Jen uses her own experiences, skiing, books, movies, and real people to help curb the pains of life

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