There is lots of debate regarding how our brain hemispheres are specialised at performing different functions. Here I report the proposals put forward by those more knowledgeable than myself.

It is believed that for the great majority of people the left brain hemisphere is far better at performing logical, analytical, mathematical tasks; particularly those involving linear and sequential processing.

In distinct contrast, the right brain hemisphere is much better at non-verbal ideation, intuition, holistic and synthesising activities and tasks particularly those involving spatial, visual and simultaneous processing.

In other words, the left brain is good at language, does well at arithmetic and can plan and schedule and organise events precisely. The right brain is musical and artistic, sees the forest instead of the trees, helps us to drive and ski without cracking up and is amazingly good at hunches and intuitive flashes. The left brain hemisphere is believed to break things down and analyse each separate part while the right brain looks at the whole picture and searches for relationships and patterns.

It is not an easy task to tell whether the two brain hemispheres perform different functions especially since they are in constant contact via the thick nerve fibre communications network called the corpus collosum. The only true test is to sever the connection.

In the 1960's, scientists had been working on split brain experiments on animals then they had a unique opportunity to test a human subject - a soldier who suffered severe 'Grand Mal' epilepsy that made life impossible. As a last ditch effort to reduce the seizures, neurosurgeons cut the corpus collosum.

Roger Sperry, the 1981 Nobel prizewinner of the California Institute of Technology and his student Michael Ganniza, performed several experiments with the 'split brain' patients. They were able to demonstrate how each side is responsible for a different set of functions. Betty Edwards outlines the results in her book "Drawing on the Right side of the brain"

Robert Ornstein experiments provided further support to the two mode thinking theories by comparing the electrical activity from left and right sides of the brain. In a relaxed state the brain shows alpha rhythms (8-10 cycles per second)

Orstein compared the relative levels of alpha from both hemispheres for different mental activities. For mathematical puzzles alpha increased in the right and decreased in the left.
For matching colour patterns alpha increased in the left and decreased in the right.

Ornstein believes that the left hemisphere is more specialised in serial processing (one bit after another); while the right is more specialised in parallel processing - taking several bits together and forming a synthesis (recognising a face). this is not an absolute distinction - it is a preference when forced to, either hemisphere can function in either mode.

Most of us experience a shift to the 'right mode' at one time or another
- you've misplaced something. Despite thinking through all the things you did earlier you can't remember where it is. That evening, reading the paper the solution hits you. Where did this insight come from? - theory suggests t's your right brain hemisphere.

- during a car ride to work you suddenly realize that you've got there without being aware of it. My mind was a million miles away - in fact it had shifted a few inches from left to right which then 'entertained' you during the journey with a set of images and insights.

Once one discovers their personal style and that this is only one of several possible approaches, one is better able to understand and appreciate both one's own unique perspective as well as the value and validity of the viewpoints, perspectives and inputs of one's colleagues.

By knowing your brain dominance profile you can begin to enhance your creative problem solving ability.

Communications

The two brain modes are so distinct that individuals proficient in each mode develop different attitudes and often fail to communicate effectively. They can have difficulty in appreciating each others value and role in the decision making process

A Cerebral left dominated business

Perhaps your business needs to be more entrepreneurial, but the corporate culture is resistant.
The culture is the result of the individual mental preferences of your people. Different companies can be positioned at different points on the brain dominance.
A bank may be corporately cerebral left in focus, an advertising agency corporately cerebral right. The market and industry that you are in attracts certain personality types and your hierarchy filters out the unperformed types. Your company culture evolves to a steady state to attain the preferred dominance position.

Unfortunately markets and industries change. Competition will provoke a cerebrally left organisation to take logical actions. Sometimes this is insufficient and may need to be supplemented by innovation and creativity. These will most likely mean that a staff will need recruiting who are outside the norms. They must be treated favourably and with care to attain a cerebral balance.

The instrument has links with Myers Briggs, Kirton Adaptor Innovator, Kolb learning style and Team Management Index instruments.I have taken all of these and the results are similar.

In western cultures the faculties associated with the left generally take a more dominant position in our lives. We tend to put greater emphasis on rational thinking, ability to express ourselves verbally, read well and excel in analytical thinking. We place less emphasis on spatial ability, artistic appreciation, creative processes and intuition - facilities more often associated with the right hemisphere.

Similarly theory suggests that the same process happens with our brain hemispheres. Schooling is cited as a strong influence basing emphasis on the three R's. It is thought that an academic diet of reading, writing, arithmetic and straightforward analysis with much less art and music and literature diminishes the capability of the right brain hemisphere. Our system does depend heavily on written tests to measure left brain thinking. Business has the same preference. MBAs beware! Sperry wrote in 1973 that...our educational system as well as science in general tends to neglect the non-verbal form of intellect. Our language seems to rebel against the Right which is sinister in Anglo Saxon.

Recent thoughts tend towards treating dominance not as a dichotomy, but as a continuum of intensities between the two hemispheres; typically on the basis of a primary and secondary relationship. Therefore for a majority of individuals there would be a brain dominance condition in which the two hemisphere are working together but with one clearly taking the lead.

The view that creativity is whole brained means that one can be more effective in the applied creative thinking sense if the two hemispheres are working together co-operatively and interactively.

Each hemisphere can perform some of the others specialisation. The metacontrol tends to select the hemisphere best suited for dealing with a particular task.. To recognise a face is extraordinary - the process is instantaneous and we are unable to explain it verbally.

Great minds throughout history have used the faculties of both the left and right sides. Albert Einstein is a classic example Although a great mathematician, his ideas came in pictures and images through intuitive insight which Einstein translated into a mathematical framework. Leonardo Da Vinci was both sculptor, scientist, artist and engineer. This combination of both right and left hemispheres is a common characteristic of the creative process.