Hemispheric Differences and Hemispheric Dominance

the two sides of the brains typically do different things

contralateral control → left side brain, right side body and vice versa. doesn’t apply to smell.

we have a dominant hemisphere, typically the opposite of the hand you write with. typically the left hemisphere. the dominant hemisphere contains language, and tends to be analytic. the nondominant hemisphere helps with emotional recognition, creativity, music, big picture thinking, etc.

the two hemispheres communicate via the corpus callosum.

The old brain

saggital slice

brains get more complex as animals evolve. further inside the brain = older structures, which are also the simplest ex breathing and sleeping.

Thalamus: relay station for senses and higher functions, except smell.

Brainstem: basic functions like heart beat and breathing, crossover point for body’s nerves

• medulla →

• pons →

• reticular formation → extends out from brainstem to other areas. acts as a filter. helps with sleep wake cycles and alertness/arousal.

cerebellum: coordinate voluntary movement