Overview

• The cerebrum has two hemispheres:
  • Left hemisphere
  • Right hemisphere

Functional Asymmetry

• While many functions are shared, certain abilities are predominantly localized to one hemisphere — a phenomenon called lateralization.

Left Hemisphere Functions (for Majority of People)

• Logical thinking and mathematical skills.
• Language skills:
  • Broca’s area: Speech production.
  • Wernicke’s area: Language comprehension (interprets spoken and written language).
• Likelihood:
  • In 90% of people, both Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas are located in the left hemisphere.
  • In the remaining 10%, these areas are in the right hemisphere.
• Implication of damage:
  • Loss of speech production or language comprehension abilities (e.g., aphasia).

• Memory Trick: Ls – Left Hemisphere = Logic, Language

Right Hemisphere Functions (for Majority of People)

• Music and art appreciation.
• Behavioral monitoring and social cognition:
  • Recognizing sarcasm, humor, and emotional expressions.
• Spatial orientation:
  • Recognizing relationships between objects and people.
  • Self-care and body awareness.
• Implication of damage:
  • Deficits in music/art perception.
  • Impaired behavioral interpretation.

Summary

• The left hemisphere is dominant for analytical and linguistic functions in most people.
• The right hemisphere specializes in emotional, artistic, and spatial functions.
• Damage to these areas leads to characteristic deficits in communication, perception, or behavior understanding.
• Key Brain Regions
  • Broca’s Area:
    • Involved in speech production.
  • Wernicke’s Area:
    • Involved in language comprehension.
  • Both are language centers and located in the left hemisphere in most people.