Hemispheric Specialisation

1. Lesson 9: Hemispheric
Specialisation

2. This lesson....
• Define the term 'Hemispheric specialisation'
• Explain the cognitive and behavioural
functions of the right and left hemispheres of
the cerebral cortex, non-verbal versus verbal
and analytical functions

3. Hemispheric
Specialisation
The idea that one hemisphere has specialised
functions, or that it exerts greater control over a
particular function. It is also known as hemispheric
dominance and hemispheric lateralisation.
In reality both the left and right hemispheres
are involved in nearly all functions.

5. The Left Hemisphere
The left hemisphere specialises in verbal and analytical
functions.
Verbal functions involve the use or recognition of
words eg. reading, writing, speaking and
understanding speech.
Analytical functions involve breaking down a task into its
key parts and approaching it in a sequential ,‘step by step’
way, as is required when using logical reasoning to
interpret and apply a formula to solve a maths problem.

6. The right Hemisphere
The right hemisphere specialises in non-
verbal functions that are not dependent
on language skills eg. Spatial and visual
thinking such as completing a jigsaw
puzzle, reading a map, recognising faces
and tunes; appreciating music and
artworks; creativity; and fantasy eg
daydreaming.

7. Summary

8. ACTIVITY
Identify the cerebral hemisphere (left or
right) that specialises in the following
cognitive and behavioural functions
1.Appreciating the beauty of a forest
2.Judging whether a car will fit into a
parking bay.
3.Listening to someone speak
4. Kicking a football with your left foot

9. Research on hemispheric
specialisation
There are three main approaches to
conducting research on hemispheric
specialisation.
•Studying people with brain damage
•Studying people after a split brain
operation (see next lesson)
•Studying people with intact brains