Brain Asymmetry

Airah Faye Tabotabo

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.