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Left / Right Brain Dominance

Are You Left-brained or Right-brained?

There are two sides of your brain known as hemispheres. Your left hemisphere controls the right side of your body and deals with logical thought and linguistic function. Your right hemisphere controls the left side of your body and deals with abstract thought and spatial orientation.

Hemispheric Dominance

Neuropsychologist Roger W. Sperry developed the right brain — left brain theory in 1960. He believed that the human brain is right or left side dominant and that each side of the brain controls different types of thinking. Some individuals utilize both sides of their brains equally (all use both to some degree) but most people have a greater tendency to think in a certain way.

Left Brain versus Right Brain

The majority of people are left brain dominant. Although the typical school environment in modern times tends to favor left brain thinkers with expectations of logical thought and practical action, right brain thinkers who tend to be more imaginative and “outside the box” are equally valuable. Interestingly, right brain dominant people are often left-handed (since each hemisphere controls the opposite side’s hand) which coincides with right brain dominant people being less common (as left-handed people are less common).

Left Brain Characteristics

  • Logical
  • Linguistic
  • Practical
  • Realistic
  • Sequential
  • Analytical
  • Strategic
  • Knows
  • Likes Math
  • Likes Reason
  • Likes Science
  • Critical Thinking

Right Brain Characteristics

  • Intuitive
  • Creative
  • Imaginative
  • Idealistic
  • Random
  • Appreciates
  • Believes
  • Recognizes Faces
  • Expresses Emotions
  • Likes Music
  • Likes Art
  • Sees the “Big Picture”

Left / Right Brain (Hemispheric Dominance)

Why Knowing is Useful

Understanding the right brain—left brain theory and knowing how you personally utilize your brain hemispheres helps you understand yourself better. It improves your ability to study, learn and process information. It also informs you about the reasons why you prefer certain activities or have certain interests.

Take our Personality Test to get your personality report. It includes results for your brain hemispheres with a chart and characteristics, plus your personality type and more than 60 other pages about you.