Brain's Dual Engines: Wired Neural Broadband

The brain's a dual structure, like eyes, ears, lungs and kidneys, but with a difference. We're geared with two brains, right and left, which Gene Cohen (The Mature Mind, 2005) says are "connected by a kind of broadband neural link called the corpus callosum."

Functional differences between the left and right side of the brain's hemispheres are well-known. Language comprehension, speech, logical and mathematical reasoning is largely handled in the left hemisphere, while face recognition, body language, musical recognition and intuitive/holistic operations are handled by the right. But the left and right hemispheres work in concert because no one activity is completely dominant on one side of the brain and this tends to increase as people mature.

You've no doubt heard talk about some people being left-brained or right-brained, which goes so far as to say that men are left-brained and women are right-brained. This is mostly metaphor, however. Men and women continuously tap into both sides of the brain throughout a day, no matter the activity. So to show career choices favoring one side of the brain or the other according to Gene Cohen, misrepresents current knowledge.

Throughout early life, the brain typically uses one side at a time for things like decoding written language, generating speech or recognizing patterns. As people mature, these tasks are usually performed in both hemispheres.

To keep your brain functioning well throughout life people need both mental and physical exercise. "Engaging in challenging new learning experiences boosts the development of the brain in the second half of life," according to Joseph LeDoux, NYU behavioral neuroscientist, since novel experiences create new synapses and other natural structures within the brain. Good news is that taking on mental challenges in new areas improves information processing and memory storage. And people who engage in regular physical exercise are less likely to develop Alzheimer's and dementia or suffer a stroke.

So fire up your dual engines to keep learning and exercising throughout life. I bought a Frisbee game to play with my grandsons and I often take on new technological challenges. At some point I want to take up painting. Hmm... what field would you like to explore or what new activity will you try?