The right brain looks at the larger picture and is creative.
The left brain deals with the details and is logical. That is why whole-brained
thinking is an essential part of learning. "We often lose sight of the
fact that it is ultimately just one brain. Like any other machinery, the brain
too works most efficiently when all its parts work in harmony as a single cohesive
unit," says Sanjay Chugh, Cognitive Science expert. He shares with us some
interesting ways to not only keep each hemisphere more active, but also well-
coordinated with the other half.
Creative
Visualisation
Visualise something in detail. This engages both the left
and right brains together as visualization is a right brain skill while
focusing on detailed steps is a function of the left brain. For instance, we
can visualize about a holiday in which we focus upon all the destinations, the
planning, the bookings etc. in detail.
Conscious
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is, in simple terms, the ability of the
brain to rewire or reorganize itself. This essentially entails doing the same
thing in a different way. When we do this, we are creating new pathways in the
brain and weakening the old ones (that were not so effective). For instance, if
we use a cautious approach, we may want to experiment with spontaneity and vice
versa. If we can consciously bring about neuroplastic changes, it would help us
juggle and exercise the left and the right brains while keeping them both on
their toes.
Play an Instrument
Music appreciation is a right brain function and the left
brain enables us to press the right key to get a certain sound. As we play an
instrument, both hemispheres of the brain get synchronized.
Sports and Games
As a player checks out the field of play whether it is the
soccer field or a chessboard, his right brain is getting polished. When he
works out his path to the goal or his strategies to checkmate the other king,
the left-brain gets activated . This is the reason why it is said that when we
play, we are not just exercising the body but also the brain.
The Stroop Task
This task is based on the research work of John Ridley
Stroop and you can view it here . This involves writing colour names in
different coloured inks and then saying the colour of the ink instead of
reading the colour word that is written. This task works brilliantly in
creating coordination between the two parts of the brain as the right brain
detects the colour while the left brain works to ensure that we do not read the
word that is written.
