NagMummy

I was asked during the preview talk of a brain stimulation centre (Little Neuro Tree) whether I thought the right brain or left brain was more important. I muttered “left, because it’s the brain we need for daily life” One second later, I realised I must have just slapped myself in the face for saying that in a preview talk selling the power of the right brain.

According to an article in The Daily Telegraph, the functions of our left and right brain hemisphere are summarised below:

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling "big picture" oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy & religion can "get it" (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking

 

Other interesting facts about our brain development. Most of us are left-brain dominant by the age of 6. From birth to the age of 3, we operate in a right-brain environment. From the age of 3 to 6, we gradually shift from being right-brain dominant to left-brain dominant, resulting in the left-brain becoming the ‘conscious’ brain and the right-brain becoming the ‘unconscious’ brain.

Hence, the window of opportunity for most right-brain training techniques is supposedly during the first 6 years of a child’s life. Proponents of these techniques say children whose right brains were stimulated early on will be able to tap into it in future, giving them an edge over those who are not able to.

But is that the case? I know a friend who could remember the telephone numbers of 40 classmates effortlessly back then in secondary school. I doubt she went through any special brain stimulation programme. And for most of us, our right brains mostly developed its ‘power’ in our normal daily stimulation.

Separately, I met some extraordinary people at the Autism Association some years ago. One kid was able to speed read, finishing books at record time. Another kid had super memory and was able to remember TV drama serial scripts, probably from when he started watching them! But the catch here is they are both left-brain damaged people, forcing their right brain to continue being in dominance in their daily operation.

So yes, I still think the left brain is more important! (if I had to choose one)

p/s: find out if we signed up for the programme in my next post