BRAIN RESEARCH INFORMATION RELATED TO TEACHING

Transcript:BRAIN RESEARCH INFORMATION RELATED TO TEACHING:
BRAIN RESEARCH INFORMATION RELATED TO TEACHING METHODS Updated 4-22-20 Karen Baranoski Wilkes Science in Motion Brain Lateralization/Dominance Brain Lateralization: refers to the idea that the right and left sides of the brain are specialized for certain skills, representing a basic principle of the brain’s organization (Mitchell, G.) This information has come from studies of patients with brain injuries, illnesses, and congenital deformities, and more recently brain imaging techniques such as PET scans. Both cerebral hemispheres participate in basic functions. However, one side usually acts as a dominant hemisphere for certain other functions. In most persons, the left hemisphere is dominant for the language-related activities of speech, writing, and reading; also for complex intellectual functions requiring verbal, analytical, and computational (math) skills (Shier D. et. al 2007). Brain Lateralization/Dominance 2 Right hemisphere has been attributed to controlling the left side of the body, motor tasks that require orientation of body in space, understanding musical patterns, and visual experiences. It also provided emotional and intuitive thought processes. Tests indicate the left hemisphere is dominant in 90% of right-handed adults, and 64% of left handed ones. A smaller % of both right (10%) and left (20%) handed adults have right hemisphere dominance; the hemispheres are equally dominant in 16% of left handed persons (Shier, D. 2007). Despite the fact that there is division of tasks in the brain, there is not a complete separation into left or right, both sides are almost always involved in any given task and in constant communication(Mitchell, G.) GENERAL DIAGRAM OF BRAIN FUNCTIONS (WIKIPEDIA 20) Brain Lateralization 3 Pop psychology overgeneralizes this idea to suggest that different people are defined as right-or-left-brained (like saying someone musically oriented is right-brained or someone who is a rational scientist is left-brained). While some research does suggest these generalizations are somewhat supported by brain activity measures, it does not mean that a certain thinking style lies solely within each hemisphere (Mitchell, G.) One popular example is Betty Edwards' Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, first published in 1979 but now in its fourth edition (2012), which epitomizes the popular view that the right hemisphere is responsible for creativity. However, brain imaging shows creative thought activates a wide neuronal network favoring neither hemisphere (Ellamil.M et.al. 2010). Rather than using terms such as “right” or “left” brained, a teacher in the classroom should be aware of differences in personalities and learning styles