Unpacking the left brain/right brain myth

You’ve probably heard it before: “I’m a right-brained creative” or “She’s super left-brained.” These kinds of statements are everywhere—in personality tests, classrooms, even job interviews. 

They’re catchy, but ultimately, they’re wrong.

This blog article dives into where the left brain/right brain myth came from, why it doesn’t hold up, and what’s actually true about how the brain works. Understanding the reality can help people learn better, think more clearly, and avoid falling for pop science.

Where did the myth come from?

The origin: Split-brain studies in the 1960s

The idea started with real research. In the 1960s, scientists studied people who had their corpus callosum—the bridge between the brain’s hemispheres—surgically cut to treat epilepsy. These studies, led by researchers like Michael Gazzaniga, found that certain functions were stronger on one side. For example, the left hemisphere often handled language tasks, while the right handled spatial tasks.

That part is true. But over time, the science got oversimplified.

How it spread through media and self-help

By the 1970s and ’80s, pop psychology books and magazines started turning this research into a story: the left hemisphere is logical and detail-focused, the right is creative and emotional. That’s a massive leap from what the research actually showed.

But the idea stuck. It offered an easy explanation for personality, learning styles, even career choices. Unfortunately, that explanation isn’t accurate.

What we now know about brain hemispheres

The hemispheres are always talking to each other

Your brain has two sides, but they’re connected by the corpus callosum—a thick bundle of nerves that lets them share information constantly. This means most tasks involve both sides of the brain, not just one.

Creativity and logic aren’t one-sided

Whether you’re solving a puzzle or writing a song, both hemispheres are engaged. For example, language depends heavily on the left side, but interpreting tone or understanding sarcasm involves the right. Likewise, visual art relies on right-side processing, but planning and execution often involve the left.

Specialization exists—but it’s not dominance

Some regions of the brain are specialized. That’s true. But specialization doesn’t mean one hemisphere is in charge while the other just watches. They work as a team.

However, the theory isn’t completely off. Some brain functions are more active on one side than the other. Language, for example, often relies on the left hemisphere, especially for grammar and sentence structure. The right hemisphere plays a bigger role in recognizing faces, reading emotion, and interpreting tone.

But specialization doesn’t mean separation. Even tasks that lean left or right involve both sides. The brain coordinates across regions constantly.

Why people still believe the myth

It simplifies something complex

The human brain is complicated. Saying “I’m right-brained” is a lot easier than explaining the interactions of neural networks. The myth offers a tidy answer—but tidy doesn’t always mean true.

It fits into popular personality frameworks

Like zodiac signs or color-coded personality types, the left/right brain myth feels personal. It gives people labels that feel meaningful, even when they’re based on faulty science.

What modern imaging shows

Brain scans reveal cross-hemispheric activity

Thanks to tools like fMRI and PET scans, researchers can now see brain activity in real time. These images show that tasks like reading, calculating, or drawing activate multiple regions on both sides of the brain.

Everyday tasks use the whole brain

Take solving a math problem, remembering a phone number, or even navigating a new place. These tasks draw on different types of processing, but all involve coordination between both hemispheres. The brain doesn’t hand off responsibility from one side to the other. Rather, it handles complexity by working as a whole.

The truth: Both hemispheres are always active

Specialization is real, but cooperation is key

No one is only left-brained or only right-brained. Our brains are wired for collaboration. Specialized areas exist, but they rely on each other to function well.

Most cognitive tasks are shared

Reading, problem-solving, and conversation all involve coordinated activity across both hemispheres. The idea that one side takes control while the other stays passive—what’s often called hemispheric dominance theory—doesn’t match how the brain functions. These tasks depend on integration, not isolation.

Why the myth is more than just wrong

It influences how people learn

Some teaching methods are based on the idea that people are either left-brained or right-brained learners. But research doesn’t support that. Learning styles based on hemispheric dominance theory aren’t helpful, and can even hold students back.

It spreads misinformation

From online quizzes to training programs, the left brain/right brain myth is everywhere. But believing it can lead people to underestimate themselves—or make decisions based on bad science.

FAQs about the left brain/right brain myth

Is the left brain really logical and the right brain creative?

Not exactly. While certain tasks may activate one hemisphere more than the other, logic and creativity aren’t confined to one side. Both hemispheres contribute, depending on the type of task and how the brain processes it.

Where did the myth come from?

It traces back to studies on split-brain patients in the 1960s. Those studies showed that some functions are more lateralized. But later interpretations stretched those findings, turning them into personality labels that were never part of the science.

Do people have a dominant brain hemisphere?

No. People don’t favor one side of the brain in the way the left brain/right brain myth claims. Most tasks—especially complex ones—engage both hemispheres working in sync.

How do the hemispheres work together?

The corpus callosum is a network of nerve fibers that connects the hemispheres and allows them to share information constantly. This connection allows the brain to coordinate language, reasoning, movement, and more.

Why is it a problem to believe the myth?

It encourages people to limit themselves. In education, it can lead to ineffective teaching methods. In self-development, it can push pseudoscientific ideas about personality, resulting in more confusion than clarity.

Final thoughts: Get the full picture of how your brain works

The left brain/right brain myth may sound convincing, but it doesn’t match up with what research shows. Understanding how the brain really works—through shared, specialized, and deeply connected systems—helps us make better choices in learning, growth, and life.

Want to train your whole brain?

The Elevate app is designed with the full brain in mind. Its 40+ brain games help improve skills like memory, focus, and communication—not by targeting “sides,” but by engaging multiple systems at once.

Download Elevate today to give your brain the balanced training it actually needs.