Nobel Prize winner and psychobiologist Roger W. Sperry discovered that the brain’s two hemispheres function differently. Human brains have a right and a left hemisphere and they serve different purposes, depending on which side is dominant. Based on Sperry’s research, numerous tests can determine your personality traits and thought processes. As it turns out, the two hemispheres of the brain don’t work in isolation. They work together and do a good job of complementing each other. So even if you seem to possess traits that are more identifiable with one of the hemisphere, you’ll also possess traits that identify with the other hemisphere.
Sperry first developed an interest in “split-brain” research when he was working on the subject of interocular transfer, which is what occurs when a person learns with one eye how to solve a specific problem, then, with that eye covered up and the person using the other eye, the person already knows how to solve the problem. The human brain is a complex organ. With that said, you can learn a lot about yourself by knowing which side is dominant for you. One side of the brain is typically dormant when compared to the other side of the brain and it can affect the way you think. One way is with a simple image like the one below. Look at the image below. Don’t think too long about it. Just note which animal you see first.
The Tiger
If you saw the tiger’s head first, your brain’s left hemisphere is more active than your right. This means that you’re an analytical person, and you’re organized and goal-oriented. When you’re facing a problem, your approach tends to be calculative, logical, and objective. With that said, you are probably adamant about your solution and your decision because you’ve put a lot of thought into it. You’d be well-served to understand that sometimes even the best decisions can be wrong and it’s OK to make mistakes.
Your personality traits:
- Precise: You’re clear about your goals and the path you need to take to achieve them.
- Planned: You follow a to-do list and do things in a properly planned way.
- Logical: Your strengths are sequencing ideas, science, and math.
- Rational: Feelings and emotions don’t get in the way of your goal achievement.
- Realistic: There’s no room in your world for fiction and fairy-tales. Not that you don’t enjoy reading fiction, necessarily. It’s just that you know the difference between fact and fiction. Even if your goals may seem lofty to other people, you’ve done the math and you know they’re achievable and realistic.
The Hanging Monkey
If you saw the hanging monkey first, your right hemisphere is the more active side of your brain. You’re a naturally creative person and you’re full of innovative ideas. When you’re facing a problem, you like to rely on your intuition, which is usually correct. This takes precedence over critical thinking. You trust your gut. You’re aware that every step you take in life is a lesson and even if you make a mistake, you’re one step closer to your goals. To you, it’s more about the journey than the destination. If you’re a dreamer, that doesn’t mean you get lost in dreamland. It’s a good idea to stop now and again to take stock of where you are and make sure you’re on the right path.
Your personality traits:
- Emotional: You care very deeply about what you care about and spend time acting and pondering based on feelings.
- Impulsive: You’re spontaneous and you’re good at going with an out-of-the-box approach.
- Intuitive: You don’t go by rulebooks or to-do lists, and you solve problems with your intuition.
- Creative and artistic: The arts, music, and creative disciplines are your thing.
- Dreamy: You tend to have dreams for life rather than precise goals, and you put your efforts towards achieving your dreams.
A lot of research has gone into the brain hemispheres, and scientists have discovered that there are ways to determine some of your personality traits and thought processes. However, remember that we do all have both hemispheres, so many traits will overlap.
