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From: majka@ubc-vision.CDN (Marc Majka)
Newsgroups: net.bio
Subject: Left and Right Brain
Message-ID: <921@ubc-vision.CDN>
Date: Wed, 17-Apr-85 14:04:19 EST
Article-I.D.: ubc-visi.921
Posted: Wed Apr 17 14:04:19 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Apr-85 17:43:04 EST
Organization: UBC Computational Vision Lab, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Lines: 33


> From: aouriri@ittvax.UUCP (Chedley Aouriri)
>...
> The human brain is functionally divided into two lateral parts: The
> left part handles mainly the sequential, rational and "scientific"
> thoughts, while the right part handles the artistic, emotional
> and philosophical thoughts. Schematically speaking, the left
> part is the scientific/computer part, while the right part is the
> artistic/philosophical part.
>...

I have been trying to track down any research that indicates that this is
true, and as yet, I have failed.  It is true that areas of the brain have
specific functions.  In many cases, the same areas in the two hemispheres
have the same function.  For example, motor control for most parts of the
body.  In some areas, the function of similar areas is different.  This
seems to be the case for some of the "cognitive" functions.  However, there
is to my knowledge no evidence anywhere for the statement above.

There certainly are functional differences in the hemispheres.  For example,
in some cases of epilepsy, the main connective channel between the two
hemispheres has been cut to control the seizures.  The two hemispheres act
more independently.  These people react differently to stimulii directed to
the different hemispheres.  Nothing as extreme as a computer/philosopher
dicotomy has ever been observed.

The Left/Right brain theory is just too pat.  No one yet understands much
about how the brain works, except to know that it is exceedingly complex.
The Left/Right brain theory is better left in the pages of the National
Enquirer or the Journal of Irrepreducable Results.

---
Marc Majka - UBC Laboratory for Computational Vision