Left Cerebral Hemisphere: Parts, Characteristics And Functions
The idea that the cerebral hemispheres differ from each other is widely accepted, both in general culture and in more academic fields.
It is often said that the left hemisphere is the one behind logical and analytical areas, such as mathematics, while the artistic is related to the right hemisphere. It is also assumed that the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, while the left does the same but with the right side.
Let’s go into more depth about the left cerebral hemisphere what characteristics are attributed to it and what functions it is involved in.
Before talking in depth about the left hemisphere, we will first define what a cerebral hemisphere is. A hemisphere, from the Greek ‘hemi’ (‘half’) and ‘sphera’ (‘sphere’), is each of the two main structures that make up the brain. Each hemisphere represents one of the two halves of the brain one right and the other left.
These hemispheres are inverses of each other, but they are not symmetrical. The line that separates them is called the interhemispheric or longitudinal brain fissure, and in its deepest part there is a structure, called the corpus callosum, that connects both hemispheres.
How is the left hemisphere of the brain structured?
Like its right counterpart, The left hemisphere is anatomically structured into lobes, having half of each of them. These lobes are the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital and insula.
As we have already mentioned, the corpus callosum, which is a structure with nerve fibers, connects both hemispheres to allow them to communicate. As with the other hemisphere, the left hemisphere is protected by the following layers:
Main features
Anatomically both hemispheres are very similar. Although, as we have already mentioned, they are not symmetrical, they are very similar. They present both fissures and gyri and both have the same number of lobes, in addition to having a similar size.
However, they have different attributes. The left hemisphere is known to be the brain structure in charge more of linguistic aspects, in addition to being behind analytical processing, typical of mathematics. Let’s take a closer look at these features:
1. Symbolic
The left hemisphere is the person in charge of using symbols to represent both concepts and objects
Thus, it is this hemisphere that allows us to understand that the ‘+’ symbol means adding to something or more, or that the ☮️ symbol means peace.
2. Verbal
As we have already mentioned, the left hemisphere is the one that is involved in the use of verbal language
This means that it is the one behind such everyday and fundamental aspects of human communication as speech, verbal memory, writing and reading.
3. Analytical
When we say that this hemisphere is analytical, we are indicating that Its information processing is done following steps that occur in a more or less linear manner analyzing each of the details of a certain situation or problem.
For this reason, the left hemisphere acquires such great importance in mathematics, in which, to reach the solution, it is necessary to identify the steps to follow to have the correct answer.
Besides, He is detailed and relatively objective when analyzing reality allowing you to make specific observations and propose a specific thought, appropriate for the problem situation.
4. Temporary
It follows the passage of time, that is, arrange things in time sequences It goes from beginning to end.
5. Rational
The left brain hemisphere tends to enhance rational reasoning. That is to say, allows us to abstract an explanation of reality from reason
6. Logical and linear
When it is said that the left hemisphere is logical, it means that it establishes causal relationships between different facts. Thus, a phenomenon must necessarily be caused by a prior or be responsible for a subsequent consequence.
This characteristic, together with the analytical aspect of this hemisphere, acquires great importance in solving mathematical problems.
Regarding the linear aspect, it should be noted that Ideas are always linked to each other
Features
These are the main functions of the left cerebral hemisphere.
Verbal language and mathematics
Related to both verbal and symbolic capacity, the left hemisphere is able to identify groups of letters and interpret them as words which, in turn, make up groups of them and form meaningful sentences.
Thanks to this, it also plays an important role in speaking, writing, mathematical problem solving, numbering, and logic
Other aspects in which this hemisphere is notably involved are verbal memory, grammar, organization of syntax, phonetic discrimination, planning, decision making, long-term memory…
Expression and understanding
John Hughlins Jackson, a neurologist, once said that the left hemisphere was the center of the power of expression. This means that this hemisphere is responsible for transforming a set of information into something meaningful.
So, This hemisphere stores concepts that it will later emit in the form of words both oral and written, allowing ideas from inside the mind of one person to be transmitted to another through the use of verbal communication.
If an embolism occurs that affects this hemisphere, functional losses such as loss of speech may occur, in addition to affecting motor abilities on the right side of the body, given that the left hemisphere controls that half of the body.
Relationship between both halves of the brain
Although we have commented that each hemisphere has its particularities and has its own functions, this does not mean that they are radically different from each other nor that they do not carry out activities together. What must be understood is that there are activities that are carried out mainly by one of the two hemispheres and others in which it is the task of its counterpart.
As a curiosity, the research indicates that Interhemispheric differences are something distinctive about the human species In most people, both hemispheres complement each other. Normally, verbal aspects such as speech are under the control of the left hemisphere, however, there are cases, especially in left-handed people, in which speech is an activity exercised by areas located in both hemispheres.
Furthermore, it has been seen that, In situations in which a brain injury occurs, there may be changes in the location of certain functions This ‘transfer’ of functions is especially significant in childhood, a time when, thanks to cerebral plasticity, the brain tries to ‘save’ a capacity specific to the injured area by making it another area, and it may be from the opposite hemisphere that it becomes post.
