Hemispheric Lateralization

Definition

This refers to some mental processes being predominantly managed by one side (hemisphere) of the brain over another. For example, in most right-handed individuals language processing occurs predominantly in left hemisphere.

Analogy

Imagine your brain as a sports team where each player has their own unique skill set. Just as you wouldn't have your goalie playing forward because they specialize in defending goals - similarly different hemispheres specialize in different functions for efficiency.

Related terms

Left Hemisphere: The left side of our brains is often associated with logical thinking including science and mathematics.

Right Hemisphere: The right side tends to be more creative and intuitive. It's often associated with visual imagery and music interpretation.

Broca’s Area: An area in left frontal lobe that plays key role in speech production.