Have you ever heard the phrase, “You’re using your right brain,” or wondered what it means to be “right-brained”? Perhaps you have even taken a right brain vs left brain test. The brain is a complex organ responsible for numerous functions, but did you know that the two hemispheres operate differently?
In this article, we will explore the concept of right brain function and why it is critical to understand. We will look at the five key functions of the right brain, how to identify if you are right brain dominant, what responsibilities it has in processing information, and the benefits of being right brain dominant. We will also discuss right brain activities and characteristics.
What is it called when you use both sides of your brain?
The two hemispheres of our brains serve separate functions. The left hemisphere is responsible for analytic functions, while the right hemisphere takes over with more spatial, artistic, and intuitive reasoning. They connect through the corpus callosum, ensuring that the brain functions holistically and not in parts. Using both sides of the brain is referred to as whole-brain thinking.
Whole-brain thinking involves combining different skills and ways of thinking from both hemispheres to solve problems leaving no stone unturned. It is essential to whole-brain thinking to ensure that both hemispheres are functioning cohesively together.
What are 5 functions of the right brain?
The right hemisphere is responsible for the following five primary functions:
1. Creativity
The right hemisphere is responsible for the imaginative, more creative tasks. It assists you in coming up with new ideas, recognizing patterns, and thinking outside the box. This hemisphere’s creative functions help you to develop new solutions and innovations, whether in the arts or science.
2. Intuition
Intuition often plays a role not just in decision-making but in life in general. The right brain is at the heart of this important quality. People who are right brain dominant often rely on their feelings and impressions to navigate life.
3. Emotion
The right hemisphere plays a role in understanding others’ emotions and interpreting emotional information, whether it is non-verbal cues or tone of voice. Moreover, it is also responsible for expressing your own emotions effectively.
4. Memory
Short-term memory works faster, but long-term memory is associated with the right hemisphere. Therefore, long-term memories such as childhood events or special occasions are often associated with the right brain.
5. Spatial Awareness
The right hemisphere is responsible for spatial judgment. It can help in recognizing shapes, sizes, directions, and distances.
Right Brain Dominant: How to Identify It?
There is no right or wrong way of using your brain. However, it is said that some people are more right brain dominant, while others are left brain. These terms refer to which hemisphere the person uses more often. Even though most people use both hemispheres, one part of the brain sometimes dominates more, as per research. Here are some telltale signs of right brain dominance:
- Imaginative visualization comes easier to you
- You’re more artistic and creative
- You can recall memories well
- You are good at spatial awareness tasks like putting together jigsaw puzzles
- Emotional expression comes naturally to you
But how can you test whether you are right brain dominant or not? In addition to mental health sessions or neurological tests, you can take a simple free or paid quiz online. Such questionnaires might not be entirely reliable, so take them with a pinch of salt.
What is the right brain responsible for?
The right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for processing information completely different from its left counterpart. Here is a breakdown of the responsibilities for which the right brain hemisphere is responsible:
- Process and understand art, music, and other creative endeavors
- Visual processing, interpreting images, and spatial orientation
- Mood regulation and emotional processing
- Memory retrieval and creative memory tasks
- Non-verbal communication, social cues, and facial expressions
- Intuition development, holistic thinking, and imagination
What are 3 functions of the right brain?
It can be difficult to compartmentalize all of the right hemisphere responsibilities. Still, here are three significant functions unique to the right hemisphere of the brain.
1. Creativity
The right brain is primarily responsible for creativity. It is the hemisphere where new creative ideas are born, including innovative scientific discoveries, exceptional pieces of art, and breakthrough inventions.
2. Intuition
Our right brain takes over in hunches and gut feelings. When we are presented with new information, the right hemisphere of the brain moves fastly to analyze it subconsciously, and then our intuition takes over.
3. Emotion
The right hemisphere is associated with emotions. It helps us understand other people’s feelings, empathize, and recognize nonverbal cues. People who have experienced damage to their right hemisphere find it challenging to recognize or express their emotions.
The Benefits of Being Right Brain Dominant
As previously mentioned, the right brain’s unique functions have their benefits, much like the left hemisphere. Being right brain dominant also brings its perks. Here are some of them:
1. Flexibility
The right-brained approach tends to be more flexible, allowing the thinker to consider more possibilities. They explore every corner of a creative project and leave no stone unturned when approaching any problem through a fresh perspective.
2. Visual Spacial
Right brain dominants have well-developed visual-spatial abilities. They are good at recognizing patterns and assembling pieces together, whether it is an innovative new gadget or painting.
3. Empathy
People who are right brain dominant are more emphatic and can quickly sense and read others’ emotions. They tend to express and understand emotions better and, thus, forge better interpersonal relationships.
4. Holistic Thinking
The right brain thinks holistically. It puts concepts together like puzzle pieces and looks at things from fresh perspectives, forming a broader worldview. As a result, right brain users can draw complex connections between two things at once, making them exceptional problem solvers.
Right Brain Activities: Boost Your Right Hemisphere
If you’re interested in developing or strengthening your right brain, here are some fun activities and hobbies you can try regularly.
1. Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is an effective way to develop your creativity and brainstorming skills. To improve creativity, you can make mind maps of simple things you see on the street.
2. Learn a New Art
People who indulge in painting, sculpting, or any form of art are said to have a robust right hemisphere. Doing such activities regularly can help hone this skill further.
3. Meditation
Meditation is a fantastic stress buster, and it also aids in developing your intuition skills. When meditating, try to focus on the present moment, breathing techniques, and visualize situations clearly.
4. Puzzle-Solving
Jigsaw puzzles or any brain teasers that involve visual-spatial work are great exercises for the right brain. These activities improve problem-solving, memory, and overall concentration.
Right Brain Characteristics: Are You One of Them?
Do the above-said benefits and activities resonate with you? You may be right brain dominant, which means you’re a creative problem solver, in touch with your emotions and ideas, and find ways to connect things in unique ways.
Here are some of the common characteristics of right brain people:
- They enjoy indulging in creative pursuits
- Holistic thinking and big-picture perspective
- They are often described as being imaginative and original
- Good at recognizing shapes and recognizing visual imagery
- Intuitive and can read the room well.
Final Thoughts
Although the left-brained perspective has taken center stage in modern society, having a strong right brain has its benefits. Focusing on developing or strengthening this hemisphere can lead to more flexibility, stronger connections with others, and better problem-solving skills in our increasingly complex world.
In conclusion, having whole-brain thinking can lead to stronger decision-making skills holistically. It is important to understand that while the two hemispheres operate separately, they work together to operate our complex brains, meaning we can use our full potential. Incorporating right brain activities in our daily lives is a fantastic way to improve brain function and experience life to the fullest.