LITERATURE REVIEW

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THE EFFECTS OF A STROKE ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT BRAIN HEMISPHERE

Brain hemisphere and its critical role in control mechanisms is one that is widely
discussed in the world of academia. One such is the effects of a stroke on the left and right brain
hemisphere. Many have viewed strokes to be the result of brain damage however the most
widely approved theory is the one that proposes a starvation of oxygen supply to the brain thus
causing a mismanagement of signals that then causes what we term as a stroke. Stroke lesions
are typically due to small vessel cerebrovascular disease in the middle or posterior cerebral artery
territory, vessels supplying the basal ganglia. Hemorrhagic lesions are more likely to induce
hyperkinetic movements. Movement disorders in the setting of stroke tend to resolve
spontaneously over time (Bansil S et al 2012)
Zhang (2011) states that the right side of the brain controls muscles on the left side of the
body and the left side of the brain controls muscles on the right side of the body. This is proven
when damage to one side of the brain will affect the opposite side of the body (Zhang 2011). A
stroke is, by definition, a sudden or rapid onset of a neurological deficit of some kind: loss of
function on one side of the body, loss of speech, loss of vision and sensation caused by a blood
vessel disease (Samuel 1995). The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority
(2012) also stated that a stroke can be caused by left hemisphere brain damage or right
hemisphere brain damage.
A person who has a right hemisphere stroke will often have left-sided weakness. The
level of weakness depends on the stroke's severity. It can range from minor muscle weakness, or
left hemiparesis, to complete paralysis, or left hemiplegia. The right hemisphere of the brain
controls the movement of the left side of the body. A person with a right brain stroke may not be
able to move the left side of the body (hemiplegia) or may be very weak in the left arm or leg
(hemiparesis) (University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority 2012). An interview was
conducted with a patient Mr Reniee Bobb currently at the Santa Cruz Nursing home. He
recollected that before the stroke he felt a sharp pain in the right side of the head which was
followed by a numb feeling to the left side of his body. This therefore solidifies the reports of the
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University of Wisconsin and Zhang et al. It also supports the theory that lack oxygen to the brain
results in a stroke.
The left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex controls the right side of the body as well as
speech and language. A person with a left brain stroke may experience hemiplegia or may
become hemiparesis.
The left half of the brain controls speech and language for most people. Someone who
has had a left brain stroke may also experience speech impairments and a difficulty
understanding what is being said to them (aphasia.) (University of Wisconsin Hospitals and
Clinics Authority 2012). Another interview was done with a doctor of a patient who has suffered
from a left hemisphere stroke. An MRI was shown, demonstrating a normal brain and another of
a stroke patient. It was seen that the left brain hemisphere of the cortex was abnormal. The doctor
indicated that the patient suffered from left hemisphere damage and this resulted in speech and
communicating complications.
This imbedded the findings of Zhang et al together with our theory that oxygen starvation
to the brain hemispheres leads to stroke that impairs control.

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REFERENCES
Bobb, Rennie. Interview by author. Personal interview. Santa Cruz, March 5, 2013.

"BRAIN ATTACK: Preventing Damage from Stroke." (1995) On the Brain 4, no. 3

Jacques, Erika, 2011, The Effects of Right Hemisphere Stroke.

Karunanayaka, Prasanna et al. 2011, "Epilepsy Beheviour." The effects of left or right
hemispheric epilepsy on language networks investigated with semantic decision fMRI task and
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"Location of Strokes - Left-brain vs. Right-brain Stroke, Health Facts For You, UW Health,
University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison ." UW Health, University of Wisconsin Hospital,
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http://www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/B_EXTRANET_HEALTH_INFORMATION-FlexMemberShow_Public_HFFY_1126663968750.html (accessed March 7, 2013).

Tewarie, Dr.. Interview by author. Personal interview. San Juan, March 5, 2013.

Zhang, Rowena. 2011, "Cerebral Hemispheres and Learning: A Study of the Correlation between
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