This is the first critical thinking exercise for my Psychology 101 class, which covers the different approaches to problem-solving in left and right brain thinkers, based upon results of experiments performed on people with split brains.
In “Spheres of Influence,” neuropsychologist Michael S. Gazzaniga, Ph.D., discusses the major functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain, as well as how they interact to provide us with a unified experience of consciousness. To help illustrate how the hemispheres of our brain work, Gazzaniga describes experiments performed on patients who have had their corpus collosum, the part of the brain that connects the two hemispheres, cut to treat severe epilepsy. Although these “split-brain” people typically report no changes in their mental processing, the results of these experiments indicate not only that each hemisphere operates independently and has different abilities, but also that the natural functioning of the left hemisphere may create a unified experience by “interpreting” our circumstances.
What the left & right brain “do”
As the “interpreter,” the left hemisphere is our abstract thinking center. It works to draw logical, linear conclusions by analyzing facts and information. The left hemisphere also controls speech. The brain’s right hemisphere is our concrete thinking center. It processes information differently, on a more holistic, intuitive level. In general, the left hemisphere is thought to be the more dominant (smarter) of the two hemispheres.
The differing functions of the brain hemispheres are revealed most clearly in an experiment in which split-brain people are shown images which only one hemisphere can see. When only the right hemisphere is shown an image, the split-brain person can use their left hand to retrieve a related object. Furthermore, although they are unable to verbalize what they saw and therefore, why they retrieved the object, they will still try to rationally explain their action. This inability to vocalize what the right hemisphere sees confirms that the left center of our brain acts as the language center, as well as suggests that the independent hemispheres achieve a unified consciousness through the left hemisphere’s “explanations” and “theories.”
Approaches to problem-solving in left & right brain thinkers
What I find particularly interesting about this article is that it illustrates how each hemisphere has a different approach to problem-solving. Based on this theory, “right-brained” people should be more intuitive and approach a problem holistically. Thus, right-brainers would be expected to comprehend the “bigger picture” more quickly than left-brained people, who tend to focus more on details.
In another Scientific American article, “Is it true that creativity resides in the right hemisphere of the brain?” the right brain hemisphere is described as, “essential for creativity… although it supplies only a quarter of the thinking needed to realize the full creative process.” While its actual role may be less than what most people expect based on generalizations, it is clear that right brain activity is linked to creativity. With this in mind, the question of how this information can be leveraged within organizations to promote creative problem-solving comes to mind.
Does America need more right brain thinkers in management?
For example, it would seem that by nature, highly right-brained individuals would lack the basic attention-to-detail necessary to thrive in a highly corporate environment. It is probably not by chance that we often find right-brain people working in creative environments, like advertising agencies, where this type of thinking is the norm, rather than the exception. However, these could be exactly the types of individuals large American companies need at the helm in order to remain competitive over time. Unfortunately, unless they master left-brain activities like organization, time management, attention to detail and verbal skills, they may never successfully climb the corporate ladder, leaving corporate American to be led primarily by linear, left-brain thinkers.
Are these creative problem-solvers adequately identified and utilized within large American organizations, where their skills could be used to find “fresh” solutions to problems? Could leveraging these holistic thinkers lead to more advances in technology, or improved ethical decision-making by American corporations? Could a failing business become successful through the purposeful injection of a leader that is a right-brain thinker, or is this type of situation too risky? Furthermore, on a larger level, can geographical hot-spots where creative thinking is encouraged be correlated to an increased likelihood that a business, and the entire community, will thrive?
As an example, technology hot-spots tend to be located on either the East or West Coast. Areas like Silicon Valley (San Francisco), Seattle and greater Miami are known to be creative hotbeds for right-brain artistry, as well as technology. Meanwhile, in conservative Midwestern cities, companies like those in the auto industry are failing miserably. In general, the Midwest has lagged behind the rest of the country in terms of economic development. Could this be in any way attributed to a wide-spread geographic intolerance or lack of appreciation for the more progressive, creative thinking process? Taking this one step further, can it be proven that developing or reviving an artistic sub-culture within a community can be positively linked to economic growth, thereby deeming it not just a good, but also a necessary, investment?
Do Right Brains + Left Brains = Better Results?
Of course, the best approach on any team or community would be to have balance – just the right mix of left and right-brain thinkers. This would help ensure that any solutions developed by right-brainers are properly supported by facts, as well as evaluated for effectiveness and ability to implement, by left-brain thinkers.