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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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Which side of the brain are you? Know before you learn Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan
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Which side of the brain are you? Know before you learn THE human brain is composed of two halves, called cerebral hemispheres. These hemispheres, namely left and right hemisphere, resemble each other but each is responsible for controlling different modes of thinking. The differences between the left-brain and right-brain thinking determine how a person will go about solving a problem. Each person is biased to use the right or the left hemisphere to solve problems. One side more actively participates in specific types of activities than the other. About 90 per cent of the population is left-brain dominated. Functions of THE brain The left brain is responsible for logic, sequential, rational, analytical and objective thinking. It is detail-oriented and deals with facts, rules, language, math and science. It comprehends, acknowledges, knows objects names and is practical as well as reality based. The person with a dominant left brain is often predisposed to solve problems logically and sequentially leading to a specific answer. As far as preferences of gender, men tend to be more analytical using their left brain functions more than the right brain functions.
The right brain is non-verbal, responsible for random, intuitive, holistic, creative, impulsive, synthesising and subjective thinking. It is driven by feelings, emotions, fantasy, symbols, images; involves spatial perception and multi-tasks handling; presents possibilities and is impetuous and risk taker. It is able to mentally rotate shapes, identify melodies and detect facial emotions. Though it is mute, but can process language to a lesser degree. Patients with injury to the left brain are able to point to the written names of objects when presented to their right-brain, but unable to say the word. A person with dominance of right hemisphere tends to be more emotional and will think in terms of intuition and creative thought. Women tend to be more right-brain dominant because their reasoning is based on intuition and not logic. They are very creative thinkers and usually dominate in the fields of advertising and public relations. Our education system is based on developing left-brain skills, i.e., reading, writing and doing arithmetic. As right-brain tendencies are often discouraged, the learners with right-brain dominance have difficult time in the left-brain supportive school environment. By accessing only the left-brain performance, a large part of individual’s mental potential is missed out. Moreover, development of one hemisphere in skills is done at the cost of the other hemisphere. Thus, impoverishment of the right brain leads to denial of our creative and intuitive abilities. Use of both hemispheres of our brain is highly recommended to make use of all the mental faculties of the individual. Successful people have right brain inner senses well integrated with left brain outer functions. Though dominance of hemispheres is universal the “whole-brained” approach increases the communication or the connection between the hemispheres. As exercise is necessary to keep our body fit, mental exercises are must to keep the brain fit. Like other muscles, brain works on the principle “use it or lose it.” The following tips can help activate both hemispheres in all ages: If you are left-brained, stimulate the right Avoid using logic only:
Do not tackle the problems always logically. Gather as much information as you can and then take the decision based on the available information. The intuition of right brain will compensate for the missing information. Visualise the situation:
While studying or readin,g try to draw images or visualise the situation. By using both the visual images and the written text, activation of both sides of brain will occur. Read books that have lots of pictures. Use computers as these present more visuals. Read unusual books: Go for books that are unusual and lively. Fictions or books describing stories about supernatural powers can serve the purpose. Practise free writing: Put your ideas, fantasies on the paper. Just practise for free writing without worrying about punctuation, capitalisation or grammar. Involve in tasks simultaneously: Handle different tasks simultaneously. While reading one can listen to music, watch TV or do some other task. Develop ability for spatial relationships: Try to have estimates of spatial dimensions. Practise with measuring tools and estimate distance, weight, size, etc. Make use of origami: Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, which relies on visualisation abilities of the right hemisphere, improves motor coordination. Use clay, papier-mache or recycled items to transform two-dimensional concepts into three-dimensional objects. Look for patterns: Watching patterns in kaleidoscope and establishing relationships of patterns with the movement develop imagination and consequently, the right-brain functioning. Listen to music:
Even listening to music enhances right-brain functions, if one can’t sing. Those who stutter often don’t stutter while singing, because singing is handled differently than regular speech. Actually music stimulates both the hemispheres, melodies of the music, i.e., non-verbal part stimulates the right hemisphere, whereas verbal part stimulates the left. Fantasise about future: Fantasise about your life about 20 years from now. Think how to change your life from present onwards. Engage in any hobby: Engage in drawing, sketching, painting or writing poems to enhance creativity and eye-motor co-ordination. Rewind dreams: During the dream state, right brain is active. So develop an awareness of your dreams, associate with dreams and every morning rewind your dreams. Break the routine: Break the routine by doing something in between your daily work. Close the eyes, imagine anything, go for sight seeing, watch unusual things, meet new people etc. Use the left hand: Practise writing with your left hand if you are a right-hander, as it is controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain. Exercise the left side of body: Exercising the left side of the body wakes up the right side of the brain. Yoga postures and breathing through left nostril stimulate the right brain. The right-brained need to
stimulate the left Be Logical: Talk about things in a logical way as much as you can. Talk or work on analytical skills. Analyse an argument or something you read and experiment freely. Get deeper into details: Rather than looking at the full picture of a situation or a problem, go deeper and fill details in a logical manner. Go for details of the details. Read books: Read books to increase your vocabulary and language. Develop speaking skills: Prepare for public speaking. Stand before the mirror and do practise. Work like a clock: Make schedules of activities for the day, weak, month, or year and follow them. Keep record of everything — activities, belongings, investments. Start the day with a “to do list”. Play complex games:
Play complex games like chess, sudoku, solve puzzles, crosswords; these stimulate the left brain functions. Learn new language: Learn new languages and increase vocabulary. Increase will power: Will power falls in the domain of the left brain. Trust your abilities and build self-confidence and will power to do the things. Use right hand if you are left-hander: Use the non-dominant hand; right hand is linked to the left brain. The individuals using both hands equally have 10 per cent more nerve fibers joining the two sides of the brain. Thus, we all can empower our weaker hemisphere of the brain through the above-mentioned activities. Pay attention to less dominant style and try to improve its functioning. Brain’s plasticity helps to rewire itself to capitalise the potential of both the hemispheres. Otherwise, half of our brain potential will be untapped and unused. Using only one hemisphere will lead to losing the other.
The writer is Professor of Educational Psychology in the Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
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Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticultureand Forestry, Nauni, Solan AS many as 91 candidates as per seats available in different categories have been allowed admission in the undergraduate programmes following the first round of counselling earlier this month. The counselling was attended by 160 candidates. According to the counselling committee, headed by Dr J. P. Sharma, Dean, College of Horticulture, the admissions were granted in accordance with merit and availability of seats. The remaining candidates are eligible to attend the second and third rounds of counselling, scheduled to be held on July 24 and August 6, to avail chance of admissions through vacant seats. The selected candidates have been directed to report for formal registration in their respective college on July 19 and July 20, failing which the seats offered to them would be treated as vacant and shall be offered to the next candidate on merit during the next counselling. A candidate already selected can also attend second and third counselling for availing chance for change of discipline/ college already allotted to him/ her against available seat, if any, in accordance with his/ her merit, according to a university press release.
Acting V-C visits varsity
Taran Shridhar, acting Vice-Chancellor-cum-Principal Secretary, Horticulture, visited the university to take stock of the situation arising out of a goof-up created by the computer in charge who had uploaded a dummy list of M.Sc entrance test results leading to upheaval from various sections of the student community. The Vice-Chancellor directed university officials to frame a charge sheet against the in charge, university’s computer centre, for his negligence in failing to upload the only approved list and creating an embarrassing situation for the university authorities.
Best performing centre
An all-India coordinated research project granted by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) to the Department of Fruit Sciences and Technology of the university was adjudged the best performing centre by ICAR. The department has standardised technology for the preparation of ready-to-serve (RTS) beverages for appetisers, RTS chutney from lactic acid, fermented radish and carrot. Apart from this, extensive research is underway on various products, including pumpkin, tea cider, vinegar, papaya, ginger tetrica, and mushroom-enriched RTS products at the Department of Fruit Sciences Technology as part of various research projects granted by ICAR and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
NSS camp organised
A National Service Scheme (NSS) camp was organised on the university campus recently. As many as 70 volunteers participated in the camp. Dr D.D. Sharma, camp coordinator, took the students to nearby villages where various social works were undertaken by them. NSS camps help foster a sense of undertaking social works among the students, Dr Sharma said. He said such camps not only help the local community but also inculcate a spirit of responsibility in volunteers for society.
— Contributed by Ambika Sharma
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Play mental games: Play mental games that involve visuals and challenge your mental skills such as video games, solving visual puzzles. 
Go for cloud watching:
As in childhood look for shapes formed by clouds through your imagination. Enjoy the situation.
Work with numbers: Right-brain thinkers may have difficulty during long verbal explanations and with maths. Do not avoid numbers; rather feel good for accounting or maths. This will increase the ability to use the left brain.