The ancient Egyptians were the first to notice that the left brain tends to control the right side of the body, while the right brain tends to control left side of the body. Although the two hemispheres are almost identical in terms of structure and function both hemispheres to a completely different way and are associated with various functions and activities. This is known as specialization and lateralization. Lateralization is evident if we consider the phenomenon of people prefer to use the right hand or left or preference to the left or right ear. However, the preference of the individual to use the left or right hand writing is not a sufficient indicator for the localization of brain function.
Imagine looking down through the top of your head to the cortex of your brain. You will notice that it is made of two halves called hemispheres: one left side, other than the right. Left and right side of the brain is associated with a complex network of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. This neurological bridge is responsible for the transfer of information between the left and right hemisphere, allowing the brain to function as a whole.
Many studies have shown that most individuals tend to dominate the left brain side, mostly because traditional methods of learning, which leads to incomplete development of the right. One of the factors that affect the processing of information is whether the individual has a tendency to dominance left or right brain hemisphere. Traditional teaching methods are based on repetitive memorization and learning, learning theories and rules and their reproduction without solutions and practical application. The traditional style of learning supports dominance left brain hemisphere and for individuals of which use the same processing information or possessing logical and analytical skills. By contrast a number of individuals who tend to dominate the right brain hemisphere will experience barriers in the traditional educational system, because they process the information holistic, intuitive, or through the right hemisphere.
There are a range of options and opportunities that can promote progressive learning style or more holistic approach will focus to the individual needs and self expressing and which will encourages mental agility, critical and creative thinking, coming up with new solutions and their practical application. Among them: an interactive group work, presentation of visual information, a storm of ideas, association with images, use of computers, use of imagination and research techniques, humor, role playing, simulations, and learning music and drawing which positively acts of emotional state.
To cite one example, children receive the task, report book. If you have a choice between: to write a report to present the report to draw a scene from the book, to design a poster to play a scene from the book, or to create a different end of the book, you will notice a fascinating phenomenon that every child gravitates to its neurological advantages. Those who tend to right hemisphere dominant choose to draw, play or create, while they tend to the left dominant hemisphere choose to speak or write.
The concept of diversity implies that each individual is unique, and that everyone has a different learning style. It says that the individual who tends to left or right brain dominance is useful to develop the other hemisphere. Of great importance is the possibility that the two hemispheres would operate in tandem, rather than independently, the possibility of integrating them. Integration leads to the ability to tune in unpredictable situations and new challenges.
Also, much of the research for the development of both sides of the brain in children showed that less used connections between left and right.
Research psychologists US Army Institute of behavioral and social sciences, Fort Benning and the Institute in Melbourne, Australia, have shown, however, that the ability of subjects like mathematics is strongest when both hemispheres working together.
Children brain twice more active than adult
Techniques using the right hemisphere are based on turning work into play, using the art presented. Information is representing as organized in space, using colors, signs, symbols. It is this approach made revolution in the learning process.
Running any kind of cross-lateral exercises and balance exercises tend to increase connections in the brain. Increasing hemispheric integration can improve creativity and general emotional and physical awareness.
The use of the abacus (ancient calculating machine) with VAK methodology (visual, auditory and cinematographic receiving and storage of information) and mathematics allows the use of both sides of the brain and their coordination, which made the development and progress of the entire brain capacity and proper mental formation. When children practice the visual abacus, they actually develop their imagination and which is a function of the right hemisphere of the brain. Combining this with some words spoken in rhythm and rhyme begins to activate functions and left hemisphere. Regular exercise of 15 minutes this way actually provides a very useful and effective exercise (training) of the brain and causes and implement many new qualities in the child. One of the most important are: visualization and concentration which is supported by listening skills and photographic memory, speed, accuracy.
According to experts in the field of brain development in children in the first years of life, the neurons in our brain form new connections with admirable rate of 700-1000 connections per second – at a pace that is not repeated in life. In the early development of the child’s brain is twice as active as compared to the brains of adult animals and experiences of this period is determined by the capacity of the brain. The brain, integration means that certain areas with their unique features, become connected to each other through synaptic connections. These integrated connections allow more complex functions to occur such as awareness, empathy, intuition and moral.
If children are encouraged to learn to be ambidexter, or to use both hands equally, it will promote synchronization and hemispheric integration and full growth of the brain. Studies have shown that individuals who are ambidexter, on average more determined in solving difficult tasks and are more emotionally resilient and adaptive.
According to the words of Dr. Dan Siegel (Dr. Dan Siegel), author of many books on child development, we need to help children build reflective intra and inter personal relations. The brain is a social organ of the body. When he experienced reflective relations creates elasticity. Elasticity is the ability to meet challenges, to examine the positive and encourage creative ideas that will take us forward together.
Logical and creative hemisphere
The theory of right brain / left brain comes from the work of Roger C. Sperry (Roger W. Sperry) who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1981. According to this theory left hemisphere is responsible for analytical thinking, facts, logic, science, words and verbal expression, critical thinking, numerical skills, writing, while the right hemisphere is responsible for awareness of art, musical awareness, creativity, visualization, memory, intuition , feelings and holistic thinking.
Frequent broad generalizations popular psychology contributed to the distinctive labels as “logical” for left hemisphere and “creative” to the right hemisphere. These labels are not supported by studies of lateralization. Recent research suggests that the brain is not a dichotomy as it was considered, but that the two hemispheres are mutually related. Both hemispheres cooperate with alternating shift of responsibility, depending on the task. This is called dominance hemispheres. In the broadest sense hemispheric dominance is changed every 90 minutes. You can easily observe this phenomenon if you notice which nostril is open.
@ Author Copyright – Children’s Academy “Brainobrain Europe”