Our brain consists of two hemispheres: the right and the left. Each has its own functions. However, the left side of our body is controlled by the right brain and the right side by the left brain. Damage to the motor areas of the left hemisphere can cause weakness or paralysis on the right side of the body, and damage to the right hemisphere on the left side.
Although each hemisphere is more involved in certain functions, the two hemispheres work together in almost all everyday activities. The ideas that people are «right-brained» or «left-brained», or that we use only a small part of our brain (for example, «10 percent»), have not been confirmed by scientific research — brain imaging shows that all areas of the brain are active.
Functions in which the left hemisphere is more involved (in most people):
- Speech and language
- Reading and writing
- Calculation
- Sequential processing of detailed information
Functions in which the right hemisphere is more involved:
- Perception of space and direction
- Recognising faces
- Visualisation
- Intonation and emotional nuances of speech