What does it mean to be left brain dominant or right brain dominant?

Scientists have explored theories about the two hemispheres of the brain and the ways that they differ in function and control of the body. According to recent research, people who are right brain dominant and those who are left brain dominant process information and respond in different ways.

Most theories suggest that right-brain dominant people are guided by the more emotional, intuitive right hemisphere while left-brain people respond in sequential, logical ways, guided by the left hemisphere. To a great degree, your personality is shaped by your brain type.

Your dominant brain type has a very significant affect on your study skills, homework habits, and grades. For instance, some students may struggle with specific assignment types or test questions, based on their specific brain types.

By understanding your dominant brain type, you may be able to adjust your study methods, and perhaps shape your schedule and coursework, to suit your own personality type.

What's Your Brain Game?

Do you watch the clock constantly, or does the bell surprise you at the end of class? Have you ever been accused of being too analytical or do people say you're dreamy?

These characteristics can me attributed to brain types. Typically, dominant left brain students will be more organized, they'll watch the clock, and they'll analyze information and process it sequentially.

They are often cautious, and they follow rules and schedules. Left brain students are strong in math and science, and can answer questions quickly. Left brain students would make great Jeopardy contestants.

On the other hand, right-brain students are the dreamers. They can be very intelligent and very deep thinkers—so much so that they can get lost in their own little worlds. They make great students of the social sciences and the arts. They are more spontaneous than the cautious left-brainers, and they are likely to follow their own gut feelings.

Right brainers are very intuitive and have great skill when it comes to seeing through lies or tricks. They would make great Survivor contestants.

What about people who are right in the middle? Everyone is different, and everyone has characteristics from both types. Some people are very equal when it comes to characteristics. Those students are middle brain oriented, and they might do well on The Apprentice. Why?

Students who are middle brain oriented can have strong qualities from either hemisphere. Those students can benefit from logic from the left and intuition from the right. That sounds like a great recipe for success in business, doesn't it?

While we have a natural tendency towards one way of thinking, the two sides of our brain work together in our everyday lives. The right brain of the brain focuses on the visual, and processes information in an intuitive and simultaneous way, looking first at the whole picture then the details. The focus of the left brain is verbal, processing information in an analytical and sequential way, looking first at the pieces then putting them together to get the whole.

Right Brain Inventory Left Brain Inventory• Visual, focusing on images, patterns

• Verbal, focusing on words, symbols, numbers

• Intuitive, led by feelings • Analytical, led by logic• Process ideas simultaneously • Process ideas sequentially,

step by step• 'Mind photos' used to remember things, writing things down or illustrating them helps you remember

• Words used to remember things, remember names rather than faces

• Make lateral connections from information

• Make logical deductions from information

• See the whole first, then the details

• Work up to the whole step by step, focusing on details, information organized

• Organization ends to be lacking

• Highly organized

• Free association • Like making lists and planning

• Like to know why you're doing something or why rules exist (reasons)

• Likely to follow rules without questioning them

• No sense of time • Good at keeping track of time

• May have trouble with spelling and finding words to express yourself

• Spelling and mathematical formula easily memorized

• Enjoy touching and feeling actual objects (sensory input)

• Enjoy observing

• Trouble prioritizing, so often late, impulsive

• Plan ahead

• Unlikely to read instruction manual before trying

• Likely read an instruction manual before trying

• Listen to how something is being said

• Listen to what is being said

• Talk with your hands • Rarely use gestures when talking

• Likely to think you're naturally creative, but need to apply yourself to develop your potential

• Likely to believe you're not creative, need to be willing to try and take risks to develop your potential

Do you get bored when teachers lecture too much? Do you feel like you can size up people easily by watching them? If so, you may be right-brain dominant.

Characteristics of Right-Brain Students

You take notes but lose them. You may have a hard time keeping track of your research You might have a hard time making up your mind You are good with people You don't fall for practical jokes as easily as some You seem dreamy, but you're really deep in thought People may have told you you're psychic You like to write fiction, draw, or play music  You might be athletic You like mystery stories You take time to ponder and you think there are two sides to every story You may lose track of time You are spontaneous  You’re fun and witty You may find it hard to follow verbal directions You are unpredictable You get lost You are emotional You don't like reading directions You may listen to music while studying You read lying down You may be interested in “the unexplained”  You are philosophical

Your Classes

In history class, you enjoy the social aspects most. You like to explore the effects of things that happened in history. You like the essays, too.

You can do well in math class if you apply yourself, but you get bored doing long problems. Science? Boring.  You do well in English class, especially when it comes to reading literature and writing essays

about books. You also do well in creative writing assignments.Advice for Right Brain Students

Choose to do personal essays Watch your daydreaming—keep it under control Let your imagination work for you in the arts Let your intuition work for you in social situations Let your deep thinking work for you during essay tests—but don’t ponder too long Be creative with essays. You can use colorful language well Use images and charts when you study Write down directions Try to be more organized!  Don’t be overly suspicious of others Make outlines to organize your thoughts.  Choose fiction in reading assignments Try to avoid teachers who lecture a lot; choose teachers who use activities You tell stories well, so write some!  Put information into categories for better understanding Avoid getting bogged down by thinking of all possibilities when answering questions Finish things! You have so much talent, but you don’t always complete things.

Are you very organized? Do you believe that there is a right way and a wrong way to do everything? If so, you may be left-brain dominant.

Characteristics of Left Brain Students

You probably work with a To-Do list You like to be the critic in class You're good at math or science You are rational and logical Your research is precise and well-documented You set goals for yourself You can interpret information well Your room is orderly You can answer questions spontaneously You follow directions and you do read directions (unlike some people)  You aren't touchy-feely You can listen to a long lecture without losing patience You don’t let feelings get in your way You like action movies

You read sitting up Your words are precise

Your Classes In history class, you are able to remember dates and processes. In math class, you enjoy going through a long calculation. You like the order of science.  In English class, you have a good understanding of grammar and sentence structure.

Advice for Left Brain Students Study in a quiet room You can do math but get impatient trying to explain it to someone who struggles—so don’t

volunteer to be a tutor unless you know you have the patience You like to lead in a study group, so go ahead and volunteer Join a debate team or academic competition Try to excel at the science fair. You can be a winner Take advantage of your skills in math and science Choose non-fiction reading You prefer factual questions and assignments, as opposed to open-ended questions You can organize your notes well, so you should  Keep your room organized Don’t argue with the teacher too much Choose to do analytical essays Work alone when you have a choice. You get frustrated with others who “clown around” Avoid “free thinking” teachers if they confuse you Take more risks. Don’t be afraid to be creative