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The Left Brain vs the Right Brain in Learning

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The Left Brain vs. the Right Brain: How Does This Impact Learning

COLL 100

AMU
Janice Flegle

The Left Brain vs. the Right Brain: How Does This Impact Learning

Everyone has a brain and without it they would not be alive. As with anything, everyone’s brain is different and how someone learns can be influenced by their brain. This paper will discuss a basic biology of the brain, the right brain, the left brain, and brain injury. Hopefully this information will help to determine how learning can be done and possible ways to improve learning skills. The first thing discussed will be the basics of how the brain works. The brain is made up of neurons that form tracts throughout the brain and these tracts carry messages to various parts of the brain (Living with brain injury, 2012). Even something as simple as breathing is controlled by the brain and that is done automatically. The brain is divided into multiple sections called lobes and they include the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, the cerebellum, and the brain stem (Living with brain injury, 2012). Each section, or lobe, has different functions, such as the occipital lobe controls vision, the cerebellum helps us keep our balance, and the temporal lobe stores our memories (Living with brain injury, 2012). When the left and right brain are used together the whole brain is utilized. With whole brain thinking the greater the connection between both halves, the chances for learning and creativity are increased (Maramonte, 2011). Now, what if only the left side of the brain was used, or only the right side of the brain was used? The left and right brain control different functions for the human body. The right side of the brain can direct attention to both the right and left sides of space while the left side has a strong bias to the contralateral side of space, allowing for better processing of information by the right side of the brain (Hugdahl & Davidson, 2002, p. 269). Some common characteristics of a right brain learner are: not planning ahead, skips around in his/her work, prefers projects and discussions rather than using a workbook, and things are figured out from very ambiguous evidence (Right brain vs. left brain, n.d.). Based off of a normal school experience, a right brain learner may be slowed down because school is structured, not much jumping around, and everything is planned for when the information will be taught, such as lesson plans. A right-brained learner prefers a visual model to better understand a concept, learns better when they can see, feel, and touch things, and seem to thrive with groups or hands-on activities (Daymut, 2009). It seems the right side of the brain loves to be hands on, now how the left side differs will be discussed. Characteristics of a left brain learner include: memorizing best by repetition, works well independently, makes lists, and likes to have structure (Right brain vs. left brain, n.d.). Someone who enjoys school can relate much better to being a left-brained learner. They enjoy working by themselves and not having anyone slow them down and also love using repetition to memorize things. The way a school day is set up seems like it is much easier for the left-brained learner to thrive and continue through the day with no problems. A left-brained learner will learn easier if a list is provided, they love to have written directions to follow, and enjoy working step by step during activities such as worksheets (Daymut, 2009). If someone is a left-brained learner steps can be taken to help them thrive in a particular environment, or vice-versa for a right-brained learner. Neither the left or right side of the brain is better or less able than the other, they differ in function, is a conclusion based off of many studies, which I feel is correct (Webb, 1983, p. 5). The goal should be to make a happy medium where techniques for a right and left brain learner are comingled into the curriculum. Now that the left and right sides of the brain were discussed, what happens when the brain is damaged will be discussed next. The brain is a very important part of everyone’s lives that helps to sustain the basic essentials needed to live. Something as important as the brain needs to be taken care of, but when it is damaged problems do occur. When the left side of the brain is damaged it can cause difficulties in speaking or understanding language, impaired logic, decreased control over the right-side body movements, and even catastrophic reactions such as depression or anxiety (Living with brain injury, 2012). This seems severe because they may lose the ability to communicate with other people, they may not be able to speak or comprehend what the other person is saying. When the right side of the brain is damaged it can cause inattention to the left side of the body, decreased awareness of deficits, visual memory deficits, altered creativity and music perception, and decreased control over the left-side of the body (Living with brain injury, 2012). Music is relaxing to most people and to have that changed would be devastating to them. When the injuries are scattered throughout the brain, it can cause deduced thinking speed, confusion, reduced attention and concentration, fatigue, and impaired cognitive skills in all areas (Living with brain injury, 2012). Injuries scattered throughout the brain seem to be the most severe. With reduced attention, confusion, and fatigue it is difficult to live a normal life, they would not understand what is going on. The brain can recover but the process can be long and difficult. Brain injuries are a serious issue and with any injury time is a huge factor in recovery. Some early stages of brain injuries include a coma where the person is unconscious and unresponsive, a vegetative state with sleep-wake cycles and briefly orients to visual stimulation, and a minimally conscious state where the person is partially conscious, responds to commands, and shows emotion (Novack & Bushnik, 2002). The first six months are where recovery is the fastest and continues up until two years, after two years recovery slows down substantially (Novack & Bushnik, 2002). Brain injuries can occur from car accidents, playing sports, even falling down the stairs. No one is protected from getting an injury and an injury will definitely impact learning. There are 10 levels of cognitive functioning for recovery from level 1- no response through level 10- purposeful-appropriate/modified independent (Novack & Bushnik, 2002). Some people fully recover from injuries, some partially recover, and some never recover, brain injuries should not be taken lightly. I have discussed basic brain biology, the right and left brain, and brain injury and recovery. Whether someone is more left-brained or right-brained the whole brain is needed for learning. The best way to learn would be to decide how they learn best and apply those techniques to the information they are learning to better understand and remember it. The more comfortable someone is learning the easier and more fun learning will become.

References
Daymut, J. (2009). Right brain vs. left brain- what's the difference? Retrieved from http://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/pdf/202_RightBrainLeftBrain.pdf
Hugdahl, K., & Davidson, R. (2002). The asymmetrical brain. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/apus/docDetail.action?docID=10225254
Living with brain injury. (2012, October 12). Retrieved from http://www.biausa.org/living-with-brain-injury.htm
Maramonte N. (2011, July 17). Left versus right brain and how it impacts learning. Retrieved from http://education.iseek.com/iseek/clean/result.html?tr=http%3a%2f%2fwww.studymode.com%2fessays%2fLeft-Versus-Right-Brain-And-How-782277.html&tq=http%3a%2f%2feducation.iseek.com%2fiseek%2fsearch.nav.html%3fc%3d0d873b31az146df8c3f3b%26et%3d%26ex%3d(x3)(x4)(x5)(v0)%26p%3d1%26rs%3d%26rsd%3d&title=Left+Versus+Right+Brain+and+How+It+Impacts+Learning+...&q=The+left+brain+vs.+the+right+brain%3a+How+does+this+impact+learning
Novack, T., & Bushnik, T. (2002, January 1). Understanding TBI: Part 3 - the recovery process. Retrieved from http://www.msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Understanding-TBI/The-Recovery-Process-For-Traumatic-Brain-Injury
Right brain vs. left brain. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://arkansashomeschool.org/index.php/free-info/special-needs-students/right-brain-vs-left-brain/
Webb, G. (1983, April 1). Left/right brains, teammates in learning. Exceptional Children, 49(6), 508-515.

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