Difference between the Right Hemisphere and the Left Hemisphere of the Brain
The brain is the main organ of the nervous system of almost all animals. In vertebrate animals, the brain is one of the most complex organs, if not the most complex of all. This organ is located in the head. In the human being, as in almost all living beings, it is in charge of centrally controlling control over all other organs. But not only that; in humans, the brain also controls the mind. The human brain is divided into two; the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere. Each one is separated from the other by the interhemispheric fissure, although they are not completely separated as they are still joined by the corpus callosum.
Each of these hemispheres controls the opposite side of the body: this means that the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body.
Right hemisphere |
Left hemisphere |
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| Short description | Although the right hemisphere is not usually the dominant hemisphere for most people, scientific studies have shown that the entire brain is involved in all the processes that it carries out. The main difference is that sometimes one is more active than the other for some tasks. For those who are left-handed, the right hemisphere will be their dominant hemisphere. | In 85% of people, who are right-handed, the left hemisphere is dominant. However, and as mentioned in the previous box; it’s not like one hemisphere stops working when the other is working. Both work together and complement each other, and even if one fails, the other hemisphere will be able to supply it, if not completely, almost completely. This is due to its plasticity. |
| Role in motor function | The right hemisphere controls the muscles of the left half of the body. | Therefore, the left hemisphere controls the motor function of the right half of the body. |
| Language | In most people, the right hemisphere does not play such an important role as it is not the dominant hemisphere. However, it is still involved in the process, although the extent and role of the non-dominant hemisphere in speech is not fully understood. | Since language is a lateralized function, and the left hemisphere is the dominant hemisphere for most people, it is in this hemisphere that Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area will be located; areas of utmost importance for the use and development of language. |
| Specific functions |
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