Some People Are Left-Brained, Others Are Right-Brained Ben Brothier Holly England Ryan Hock Lori Markham Allie Nannini Emily Senkosky John Saling

What is the MYTH in question? Left Brained or Right Brained? Two sides of the brain, left and right hemispheres. Both hemispheres differ in functions. Activity in the brain differs when people engage in different tasks.

Characteristics Left Brained Right Brained -Logical -Detail Oriented -Analytical -Organized -Language Oriented -Rational Right Brained -Holistic -Intuitive -Artistic -Spontaneous -Imagination

What examples were you able to locate about the MYTH? -Roger Sperry’s and Michael Gazzaniga’s split-brain experiment (1960s) -1981 Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine (gains credibility) -This research was distorted and exaggerated over time -Stroke in left side of brain affects language whereas right-side doesn’t. -Sperry showed that right-side is necessary to associate word/speech to image. -Plenty of tests on the internet are available to tell you if you have right sided brain or left-sided. This gives momentum to the myth and keeps it in beliefs.

How does psychological science bust the MYTH? Roger Sperry Split-Brain Studies (1981 Nobel Prize) Surgery targeted corpus callosum Two halves of the brain acted independently Results Test showed input no longer reached both hemispheres Patient’s were oblivious to acts by the opposite side

-University of Utah study debunks theory using more than 1,000 brains. Scientific Evidence -University of Utah study debunks theory using more than 1,000 brains. -Every participant of the study used the entire brain equally throughout the experiment. -"It is not the case that the left hemisphere is associated with logic or reasoning more than the right," said Dr. Jeff Anderson, director of the fMRI Neurosurgical Mapping Service at the University of Utah. "Also, creativity is no more processed in the right hemisphere than the left." -At the end of the study, both sides of the brain were essentially equal in the usage of their neural networks and connectivity.

Of the 6 scientific principles you’ve learned about, which do you believe are most relevant for helping debunk the myth? Why?

Do you believe everything you hear? Why might debunking the myth be important?

Avoid Ignorance at all costs! After weighting the scientific evidence, why should anyone care about knowing the truth?

Affect Self Esteem or Identity Negatively Discrimination What personal or societal consequences might there be if people continue to falsely believe the myth? Affect Self Esteem or Identity Negatively Discrimination Limiting Potential Factors Financial Loss