Honeylyne Lastimado Bryan Go Jayramae Pantilag Brief historical background
19th Century - researchers found anatomical
differences between the two cerebral hemispheres of humans stating the right-left asymmetry of the sylvian fissure (1884), the left resulting longer and running less steeply than the right Comparison of the Left & Right Hemispheres It was Paul Brocas discovery in 1865, that the left cerebral hemisphere of right-handed people is dominant for language based on observing acquired language deficit (aphasia) following left hemisphere stroke, that the general concept of brain asymmetry emerged. What is Brain Asymmetry?
Brain asymmetry or cerebral asymmetry
refers to anatomical, physiological or behavioral differences between the two cerebral hemispheres.
- refers to structural and functional
differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain The hemispheres of the human brain are functionally and structurally asymmetric.
In human neuroanatomy, brain asymmetry can
refer to at least two quite distinct findings:
Neuroanatomical differences between the left and
right sides of the brain Lateralized functional differences: lateralization of brain function Neuroanatomical differences between the left and right sides of the brain
Structurally, the two halves of the human brain are
slightly different. some structures are larger or smaller on one half of the brain than the other, and the density and composition of nerve cells can also vary Lateralized functional differences: lateralization of brain function
The best-known functional asymmetry is that of
left-hemisphere specialization for language (Broca, 1861).
- suggested that the study of structural
asymmetries might provide important clues to the neuroanatomical basis of lateralized brain functions. Roger Wolcott Sperry became widely known for an astonishing career in science, pioneering ideas about the functional specialization of the cerebral hemispheres in what came to be known as left brain and right brain. Functionally, the two halves of the brain tend to focus on different things, with specific areas processing particular types of cognitive tasks. Importance of Brain Asymmetry
The split-brain design allows us to process many
things at once.
Aneglo Bisazza and Marco Dadda of the
University of Padova bred two different strains of the same species of fish. 1. Bred to have asymmetrical brains like most vertebrates
2. Bred with symmetrical ones (both sides processing the
same thing) Disadvantage of Brain Asymmetry
Certain tasks may be easier to execute on
either the left or right side of your body. -The left side of the human face tends to be more expressive because it is controlled by the right hemisphere. - Most people are right-handed because the left brain is usually dominant. In conclusion... Brain asymmetry means that both hemispheres have to work closely to ensure a smooth ride, and having an overly dominant hemisphere is invariably a bad thing.