🍭 #1 — Left Brain, Right Brain… Which One Is Driving?
BRAIN CANDY
“I’m left-brained.”
“I’m definitely right-brained.”
You’ve probably heard it.
The popular version goes something like this:
Left brain = logical, analytical, organised.
Right brain = creative, intuitive, emotional.
It’s a wonderfully neat explanation.
And it’s also far too simplistic.
Because there is something genuinely interesting underneath all that popular psychology.
🧠 Your hemispheres really are different
The two hemispheres of the brain aren’t identical.
There is genuine functional specialisation and lateralisation — some functions are more strongly associated with one hemisphere than the other, while the hemispheres communicate and work together as part of a much larger network.
So the interesting question isn’t simply:
“Am I left-brained or right-brained?”
It’s:
“How is my brain organised — and how does that organisation affect the way I take in, process and respond to information?”
🚗 Enter the Dominance Profile
This is where things get considerably more interesting.
Carla Hannaford’s The Dominance Factor explores dominance across the eye, ear, brain hemisphere, hand and foot, bringing those elements together into what she calls a Dominance Profile. (Google Books)
It’s a very different proposition from simply labelling somebody “left-brained” or “right-brained”.
One of the analogies I use when training practitioners is this:
Imagine a car with two drivers.
You don’t necessarily have a problem because there are two drivers.
You have a problem if both are trying to control the steering wheel at the same time.
The aim isn’t to get rid of one driver.
It’s about developing organisation, specialisation and effective communication so the system can work together.
👋 And yes, I’m left-handed
Which makes this particularly interesting to me.
I’m very right-brain dominant and I’m left-handed.
So if you tried to explain me simply by saying:
“Right brain = left hand. Case closed.”
…you’d be missing the much more interesting question of how the different dominance patterns actually fit together.
That’s precisely why looking at eye, ear, hand, foot and brain dominance as a pattern can be more informative than sticking someone into a simplistic left-brain/right-brain box.
🔬 Specialisation doesn’t mean isolation
This is the bit I think gets lost.
The brain doesn’t have two little departments that never speak to each other.
The hemispheres communicate continuously.
And whole-brain functioning still matters.
The Dominance Profile model is therefore not simply about declaring one hemisphere “better”.
It’s about understanding patterns of dominance and how they may influence the way an individual processes information, learns and responds — particularly in different circumstances. (Google Books)
🍬 THE BRAIN CANDY TAKEAWAY
“Left-brained” and “right-brained” personality types?
That’s the bit I’d happily poke with a stick.
But hemispheric lateralisation and dominance?
Now we’re talking about something much more interesting.
Two hemispheres.
Different specialisations.
A whole network of communication.
And a surprisingly complicated relationship between brain, body and behaviour.
Because sometimes the question isn’t:
“Which side are you?”
It’s:
“Who’s driving — and are they working together?”
⸻
Next time:
🍬 “We only use 10% of our brain.”
Spoiler: your brain is considerably less economical than that.
Brain Candy
Ideas for curious brains.
Sue Cook BSc (Hons) Lic LCCH
Founder, Brainbuzzz
Creator of The Decision Tower™
TRAIN WITH BRAINBUZZZ
Take your understanding of neurodevelopment further.
For practitioners who want to understand how development, movement, sensory processing and the brain work together, Brainbuzzz training offers a practical, hands-on approach you can take into your own work.
I’ve been working therapeutically since 1996 and specialising in neurodevelopment since 2007. Over the years, I’ve developed a practical approach that brings together observation, assessment and movement-based neurodevelopmental work.
THIS ISN’T JUST ANOTHER COURSE
You’ll learn how to:
• Understand the significance of primitive reflexes and their development
• Observe patterns that can influence learning, coordination, attention and behaviour
• Explore hemispheric and whole-body dominance
• Understand the relationship between movement and neurological development
• Recognise patterns that may otherwise be overlooked
• Develop practical strategies you can use with children and families
• Build your confidence in applying neurodevelopmental principles in practice
WHO IS IT FOR?
The training is suitable for practitioners and professionals who work with children, learning, development or families and want to develop a deeper practical understanding of neurodevelopment.
You don’t need to arrive knowing everything.
You need to be curious.
WHAT MAKES BRAINBUZZZ DIFFERENT?
I don’t teach neurodevelopment as a collection of facts to memorise.
I want practitioners to look, question, connect and understand what they’re seeing.
Because once you understand the underlying patterns, your observations become much more meaningful — and your intervention becomes much more purposeful.
INTERESTED?
I’m currently talking to practitioners who are interested in training with Brainbuzzz.
If you’d like to find out more about the training, content, format and opportunities to work with me, get in touch.
Sue Cook BSc (Hons) Lic LCCH
Founder, Brainbuzzz
Neurodevelopment Specialist & Trainer
brainbuzzz.co.uk
07730 188536.
