Can we please stop referring to people as left or right brained?
In the second episode of our Creative Lies series, we’re taking another myth around the back of the barn in an effort to put it out of our misery. This time it’s the myth that some people are left-brained and others are right-brained.
This is utter tosh.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Neuroscience shows us that creativity isn’t limited to one side of the brain” quote=”Neuroscience shows us that creativity isn’t limited to one side of the brain” theme=”style6″]Neuroscience shows us that creativity isn’t limited to one side of the brain. It uses the whole brain. And the parts of the brain that deactivate are maybe even more important than the parts of the brain that activate.
It causes some people to think they’re not creative because their brain isn’t built that way
This myth is pretty harmful. It causes some people to think they’re not creative because their brain isn’t built that way. And it causes many people to think that applying creativity isn’t going to lead to a rational and effective solution.
But that’s all up there in that video. It’s only about 90 seconds long but that should be long enough to prevent you from ever uttering the misguided and harmful nonsense about left or right brained thinking ever again.
If you missed the first video in the series, you can catch up here.
Links to articles and research supporting this debunking:
Live Science – Left Brain vs. Right: It’s a Myth, Research Finds
The Guardian – Despite what you’ve been told, you aren’t ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’
Brain Decoder – Watch Neil DeGrasse Tyson Elegantly Debunk The Right Brain, Left Brain Myth
Psychology Today – Why the Left-Brain Right-Brain Myth Will Probably Never Die
https://openforideas.org/blog/2016/10/28/can-we-stop-referring-to-people-as-left-or-right-brained/https://i2.wp.com/openforideas.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/neuroscience.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1https://i2.wp.com/openforideas.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/neuroscience.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1Videoart,creative lies,creativity,emotional,left-brained,neuroscience,rational,renaissance,right-brained,science
Now he runs Open for Ideas and helps individuals and companies become more creative.
You can find him speaking at conferences all over the world. And sharing his thinking in boardrooms, universities and dimly-lit pubs.
Thanks Dave! This is brilliant. Mind if I borrow the video for a Meetup I’m speaking at soon? I’ll of course credit OfI. Flick
Of course. Please do! 😀
There’s no facts in that video just independent subjective statements. There’s been scientific studies that localize creative and logical functions within hemispheres. Look at split brain studies if you don’t believe me.
Hi Antony,
Thanks for pointing out the lack of links to research.
The video isn’t the place to put them.
So I’ve added a few to the bottom of the article.
A quick Google search brings up plenty more.
I’m well aware of split brain research and this has nothing to do with that. I mention that there are localised functional areas of the brain within the film.
Please have a read of the references and tell me if you still disagree.
Thanks, Dave