The human brain is a core organ in the body. It influences a wide range of human activities such as learning, communication, memorizing and other biological processes. The human brain consists of numerous parts, which enable it to achieve its functions. Each part of the brain carries out a function in order to enhance the functionality of the brain.
However, all these parts of the brain are synchronized through some cells and play different roles to achieve a certain function. The feature that makes the brain a distinct organ from any other organ in the body is the cerebral cortex. (Iaccino, 1993, P. 247). This part is divided into two sides namely, the right he sphere and the left hemisphere.
Each hemisphere has distinct features based on the structure and functions. For example, each part of the hemisphere is divided into four parts called the frontal, the temporal, the parietal, and the occipital. All these parts have different functions in their respective hemispheres.
How each hemisphere operates and performs its functions, is what characterizes the performance of different human body functions, which include learning. Extensive research has been carried out on the differences between the right and left sides of the brain. This research has indicated that the right side of the brain is better at specialties, emotions, and neurotransmitters functions.
The different hemispheres thus affect individuals differently in terms of learning. Learning can be categorized in term of individual’s ability to integrate information and provide meaningful conclusions. There are four different ways of thinking that the different sides of the brain affect learning.
The detailed analysis of these ways of learning elucidates the differences in learning patterns among students based on the side of the brain that is dominant. These ways of learning include Analytical thinking, sequential thinking, interpersonal thinking and imaginative thinking.
Analytical Thinking
Several theories have been put forward regarding the right and left-brain dominance. It is clear from some of the theories that each side of the brain regulates different types of thinking. It is also stated that different people have a certain preference to a certain way of thinking than others.
This is attributed to what side of the brain is dominant. Analytical thinking is considered as the ability to generate relevant ideas based on logical conclusions. Data collection is an activity that requires critical analysis of data before making a decision on which data is relevant to the topic under study.
Students whose their left hand side of their brains are dominant tend to be good at this practice. This is because the left hand side of the brain processes information, which requires critical thinking. A student whose right hand side of the brain is dominant is poor at this practice.
This is because, the right side of the brain is not well defined to carry out critical thinking related processes. Therefore, for detailed homework assignments, the right brained students tend to spend more time on the problems than their left brained counterparts do. When two students are reading the same text, they come up with different interpretations. This is because the ability to understand relies on the individual’s critical thinking, which in turn, depends on which part of the hemisphere is dominant in the individual.
Sequential Thinking
It is clear that the left hemisphere of the brain and the right side of the brain process data differently. However, it should be remembered that most processes mainly take place at the dominant side of the brain. Extensive research has been conducted on how the brain processes information.
These researches have indicated that, the thinking and learning processes become more efficient when the brain functions fully. This means that, when both sides of the brain are working together, an individual’s thinking and learning processes become exceptional. This implies that, the stronger side strengthens the weaker side of the brain.
The left side of the brain processes data in sequence, in addition to, linear mode of thinking. It is believed that, a person who uses the left side of their brain is proficient at performing their actions in an organized manner. The art of making lists, preparing of schedules and their day-to-day planning is easy to these kinds of people. The left side of the brain is designed to process information in sequence.
This fact has made the people who use their left sides of the brain to be proficient at performing things in sequence. For example, a left brained student has a higher probability of being excellent at math and following directions as well as spelling. This contrasts the students whose use the right side of their brains.
These are considered random thinkers because, a right brained student may hand in their assignment late, or incomplete not because they did not intend to complete it, but just because they were doing something else. This is attributed to the random nature of their dominant side of their brains.
Interpersonal Thinking
This is the ability of an individual to relate well with others. It is based on the ability of an individual to listen to others and share their ideas to others. In addition, it requires the need to seek understanding of the environment around someone. Left hand brained students are considered the best at expressing what they have in their minds.
They know exactly what they feel, and can choose the right words to deliver the required information no matter the environment that, surrounds them. On the contrary, the right brained students have difficulties in expressing themselves. A student may know an answer to a question in an exam, but lack words to express the required information.
The right brained students tend to depend on sensory input in delivering information. They do this in order to enhance their efficiency of delivering the information. This is attributed to the poor ability of the right hemisphere to keep memories of events that have occurred either within a short or even a long time.
Therefore, it has become a common practice for the right brained students to make mental videos of what they read or even write to enhance their memories.
Imaginative Thinking
Imaginative thinking is the art of the brain that concretely processes information rather than use of intuition. This characteristic distinguishes many students in class. It defines the limits of information analysis and creation by a student. A student who is exceptional in coming up with meaningful imaginations tends to be remarkable in their studies.
In fact, the art of imaginative thinking enhances the ability to tackle problems not only in class, but also in real life situations. The students who use the left side of their brains have no problems in processing the problems that are presented before them. They tend to think far way, beyond what is before them. They put many efforts to use certain information in order to generate a solution w to any challenge that comes before them.
These left brained students tend to make logical simulations better than their counterparts who use the right hemisphere of the brain. On the contrary, the right brained students may need visual aid or may want to touch or feel the actual object. In fact, they prefer to look at the words being used in a certain context so as they can know how to use them in their context.
For mathematical problems, they may need to see how the mathematical formulas work to apply it on their own. They accomplish this with the aim of avoiding brainstorming which is not well developed in the students who use the right hand side of the brain.
Conclusion
From the above discussions, it is evident that there are distinct features between the left side of the brain and the right one. This fact implies that people also have different learning styles. It is also clear that left brained students are more advantageous than their right counterparts are in reading and understanding material.
This does not necessarily mean that, the students who use their left side of their brains are more intelligent than those who use their right side. However, flexibility in utilizing both the brain sides is the key strategy for attaining academic prosperity.
References
Iaccino. J. (1993). Left brain- right brain Differences. Pennsylvania: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Left brain, Right brain, Whole brain– Home page. (n.d). Web.
Left brain, right brain. Prospectus Magazine. (n.d). Web.