No, this is not a post about differing political parties! This last Sunday, my husband brought up some facts about “left brained” people and “right brained” people. He started with a little experiment. He said to clasp our hands together. Then we were to look down and see which thumb was on top. Which ever was on top, the opposite side of our brain is the one we tended to use more. Then he read a list of traits exhibited by the “lefties” and the “righties”. The right brains tend to have great ideas, tend to see the big picture, also get distracted and drop the ball on these great ideas. They seem less organized. They can be perceived by the lefties as being less smart. There were many others that he read, but I knew as he read that he was describing himself. The leftties are the opposite. Like lists, can’t come up with creative ideas, but can take a righties idea and follow through with it. Not as easily distracted. Seen as more organized, etc. The lady next to me asked my husband if he knew what I am. Based on the lists, he knew he is a rightie and I am a leftie. The thumb experiment did not really work for every one, but based on the lists, it was easier to tell which side of the brain one tends to rely on more often.
| Left Brain | Right Brain | |
| Logical Sequential Rational Analytical Objective Looks at parts |
Random Intuitive Holistic Synthesizing Subjective Looks at wholes |



November 5th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I think I’m relatively ambidextrous: neither side works very well any more.
November 8th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
ha ha! actually, in thinking about this info, I think it can be helpful even in relating to my kids. I think this must be why it’s hard for my daughter and I to communicate at times. and even why it is hard for her to do something like clean her room….
November 11th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
That actually did work for me, though it depends on how I clasp my hands - fingers intertwined, my left thumb’s on top - and I’m definitely right brained by these descriptions. Without fingers clasped, my right thumb’s outside… hmmmm…
I’ll stick with right brain, and add easily confused to the list of qualities
November 11th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
it actually did work for me too. funny though. and i recognized my husband and i just from his reading the list!
November 17th, 2008 at 2:34 am
I am right brained. And the thumb test worked for me!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
kind of interesting isn’t it!