Talk:Cerebral hemisphere

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[edit] Hemispheric Specialization

This article is a little harsh on this topic, although pseudoscience has blown hemispheric specialzation out of control, their is still ample evidence to support a good degree of specialization.

And while we're on the subject of pseudoscience, hemispheric lateralization and the article, in all sources I can find, it seems that one would place spatial abilities in the right brain, not the left. Any references that point to the contrary? Actually, it seems that this is pretty well supported in research by Sperry on split-brain patients, so I would agree with this being treated rather harshly in the article. --Delaque 05:31, 5 May 2006 (UTC)
I very much agree Lateralization of brain function is better. --Salix alba (talk) 09:07, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Myth

Is this really true? It has the feel of a myth. This site explains in a little more detail:

http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/brainhemisphere/index.htm

- Omegatron 15:37, Apr 13, 2004 (UTC)

Interesting article. It seems it is arguing that "the brain is a marvelously complex organ that its function cannot be quickly and easily pigeonholed", which I would completely agree with and which is supported by neuroscience. The dichotomy between the hemispheres (artsy on the right and logical on the left) is just a pop psychology simplification of the matter (it's more than a simplification, this sort of simplification is just flat-out wrong, yet the story is told anyway because a lot of people are inclined to believe in it, I guess). Cerebral 17:56, 22 May 2004 (UTC)
If it's flat-out wrong then it shouldn't be in the article... - Omegatron 14:18, Nov 1, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Animals

If this difference in function between the two hemispheres is true, is it the same for all cultures and races? Is it present in animals too? I am wondering about right- and left-handed, reading left-to-right, etc. - Omegatron 14:18, Nov 1, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Mirror images

"Each hemisphere is a mirror image of the other"

To what degree? Just in general shape? Are the folds on one side mirrored by the other? - Omegatron 13:44, May 20, 2004 (UTC)

Where is that quote from? Each hemisphere is not an exact mirror image. There are "subtle" differences. For example, the lateral sulcus is often longer in the left hemisphere than the right. About the folds, or sulci, these are not mirrored "exactly", but there are variations. The best thing to do is try to find pics of a human brain and compare the differences for yourself, because I'm not doing such a great job explaining what the differences are. Again, it's a subtle thing, and you would have to look at the patterns of sulci in each hemisphere closely, but you'll see that there are definitely differences. I'm not sure about differences in size between the two hemispheres. Cerebral 17:56, 22 May 2004 (UTC)
It is the last sentence of the first paragraph. Please clarify which parts are mirror images and which are not. You seem to know a lot on the subject. Anything more you want to add is welcome. - Omegatron 16:29, May 23, 2004 (UTC)

Not exact mirror images. There are some slight differences in overall shape between the two sides. Carter "Mapping the Mind" has some details on this. --Pfafrich 09:10, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Additional Information on Hemispheric Lateralization

Here is a particularly good source on the subject that addresses common myths and explains exactly what conclusions have been reached based on scientific experimentation (through observing and testing split brain patients and people with other types of brain damage, such as to Broca's Area).

http://www.oecd.org/document/63/0,2340,en_2649_33723_34555007_1_1_1_1,00.html

Lantoka 09:55, 13 September 2005 (UTC) he information from the


Laterisation with respect to sensory input is not clearly explained, thus allowing the perpetuation of the popular misconception that the right eye projects to the left hemisphere; in truth, the right visual field projects onto the left hemisphere, see for example http://neuro.med.harvard.edu/site/dh/b15.htm --Olethros 16:36, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Confusion on lateralization

I have seen it asserted that scientific research has found that mathematics is done with the left brain. But I wonder whether those whom brain researchers observed "doing mathematics" were doing

  • what brain researchers consider to be "mathematics", or
  • what mathematicians consider to be "mathematics"?

For example, suppose one who has a good handle on the standard first-year calculus course is asked to evaluate the integral

\int {dx \over (x^2 + 4x + 13)^2}.

I have a deep dark suspicion that some of those brain researchers think that's what mathematics is (it would be a bit like mistaking copy-editing for English literature). On the other hand, suppose a 10-year-old wonders why it is that when you add two odd numbers you get an even number and when you multiply two odd numbers you get an odd number, and figures it out (all 10-year-olds do things like this, except perhaps those who will grow up to be non-mathematicians). That would in fact be mathematics. Likewise, figuring out how to evaluate the integral above without having seen it done in textbooks, as opposed to following the textbook routines, would be mathematics.

So which is it (if either)? Michael Hardy 22:55, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

Have a look at [1]

These results suggest that enhanced interhemispheric interaction is a unique functional characteristic of the mathematically gifted brain.

a bit of intensive websearching reaveals a few interesting gems on the subject which I can't remember off hand. I seem to remember finding a study somewhere showing high numbers of left handed in mathematically gifted people.

As you point out there are two different processes going on in mathematics at different levels. There can be intesive symbolic work which fits with the left hemisphere language processing areas. But there is also a more conceptual side possibly requiring right brain processing. --Salix alba (talk) 23:28, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] New Scientist 28 Jan 06

Interesting series of articles in this week New Scientist in particular Glad to be Gullible by Clare Wilson. [2].

A few relevant quotes:

  • What determins our tendancy to spot patterns and form associations? It turns out that the key factor is the relative dominance of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. ... Most neuroscientists would accept that the left side of the brain is primarily responsable for language and logical analysis, while the right side is more involved in creativity and what might be called lateral thinking - making connections between disprate concepts.
  • Several recient studies suggest that people who beleive in the paranomal have greater right brain dominance (See Psychiatry Research:Neuorimaging, vol 100, p139 and Psychopathology, vol 34, p75).
  • Brugger and other have shown that there is relativly more right brain activity in people with schizophrenia

Peter Bruger a neroscientist at University Hospital, Zurich. Seems a man to watch. --Salix alba (talk) 15:25, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

While I'm at it people might be interested in an essay I wrote on the subject [3] --Salix alba (talk) 15:42, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Meninges

Does the quick mentioning of meningitis have enough relevance to be placed in this article? 69.246.150.153 02:18, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fix this.

Perceptual information from the eyes, ears, and rest of the body is sent to the opposite hemisphere

The emphasized portion is false. Both hemispheres receive data from both eyes and both ears. It would be great if people studied anatomy before they professed it. --76.224.71.181 08:31, 24 July 2007 (UTC)