In the last post, we went over the basic roles and functioning of both the left and right brain hemispheres.

As mentioned, these 2 sides are different and have different functions but they must work together. They communicate via the corpus callosum, which is a large, C-shaped nerve fiber bundle which stretches across the midline of the brain. Its main function is to connect the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

In this post, we’ll learn what happens when there’s injury in one or the other hemispheres.

You may find it very surprising to learn just how complex your brain actually is. It allows you to accomplish so much every day, from picking up a banana from the table, to reading, singing, speaking and feeling and understanding emotions. There is so much to learn and scientists are still making new discoveries about its functioning.

How BRAIN INJURY (also known as stroke) affects your body and your daily life: the brain hemisphere that’s affected by injury can determine what specific symptoms and problems the body may have.

-LEFT HEMISPHERE is mostly responsible for:

-controlling the right side of the body (so, injury could lead to right-sided weakness).

-reading

-writing

-speaking

-grammar

-listening

-number and computation skills

-analyzing information

-logic

-reasoning

-sequential thinking

-time awareness

INJURIES on the Left side of the brain can cause:

-difficulty understanding both written and spoken words

-difficulty expressing both spoken & written language.

-changes in speech

-verbal memory issues

-impaired logic

-sequencing difficulties

-difficulties with numbers.

-difficulties in dealing with complex problems.

-the person may find it difficult to coordinate or program motor movements for speaking and other tasks or movements (apraxia).

-can’t see or perceive thins on the right side of the body.

-slurred speech or change in the sound of the voice (dysarthria).

-slow movements.

The LEFT side of the brain is concerned with language, spoken language, number skills, reasoning, scientific skills and right-hand control.

The RIGHT BRAIN HEMISPHERE is mostly responsible for the following problems which may arise with injury and damage:

-controlling the left side of the body (resulting in left-sided weakness).

-challenging to focus or concentrate on a task.

-the left side of the body can’t attend to things.

-can’t see or perceive things on the left side of the body.

-can’t recall previously learned information and difficulty in learning new information.

-can’t identify problems or generate solutions.

-difficulty in remembering significant events such as the time, date and place.

-short attention span.

-social communications skills are affected: understanding jokes, interpreting abstract language, making inferences and understanding non-verbal cues.

-difficulty in organizing things: planning and arranging information.

-poor decisions-making.

-slow learning process.

-impulsiveness

So, the brain’s two lateral halves, also known as left and right hemispheres, have neurons/receptors which are used for various bodily functions.

The left cerebral hemisphere is in charge of the cognitive functions, such as speech and language.

The right cerebral hemisphere is more on creativity and face recognition. Though the brain functions are divided based on its hemisphere, even a specific function to be executed, it would still need the entire brain.

It’s good to remember that you are not either right or left-brained. You may have more dominance on one side or the other but both hemispheres, working in cooperation, are necessary for proper functioning of your brain and body. The brain is used HOLISTICALLY, although some personality types may be more analytical than artistic. For most people, it’s possible to be logical and creative at the same time.

It’s important to know how your brain, mind and body work, so that you can function at your very best and to understand who you really are and how you function optimally. Yes---knowledge is power. But only in using and taking ACTION with this knowledge, can you function at your maximum potential------you can thrive! It doesn’t hurt to have some gratitude, too, for this amazing, complex and most vital organ of the body-------------your brain!

With smiles and love,

Dr Gigi

PS: Learn more @www.gigiarnaud.com and Sign up for your Free Clarity Call!

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