7 replies to this topic

[sparkk51]

Hello, for my entire life I have used my right brain quite dominantly and I now hope this isnt permanent. I notice that, from my performance at school, playing games, and the activities that I favor, I am almost completely right brain dominant and am desperate to change that.

Just to clarify the thinking my brain favors, I am stimulated by things that are visual. For instance, I am exceptionally well at recognizing actors' faces. Its almost scary actually, I can think of so many moments where my family and I sit down to watch a film and I recognize an extra or minor supporting roll from a movie or show we've seen years ago. I dont even need to have seen him/her in more than 1 production to have his/her face hard-pressed into the back of my mind (yes, I do realize that it may be my ability to recall visuals that is superior rather than my ability to remember them). There are, of course, other things that I am most interested in such as passing time at school drawing rather than say, talking or doing homework.

I hate being this way; I hate being scatter-minded during tests or math. I hate problem solving by imagining the steps in my head rather than just thinking of them in a straightforward and linear manner. I hate having to visualize what the teacher is talking about to just get an understanding of what they are talking about. And most of all, I hate being terrible at remembering raw facts and information and only getting by remembering everything in a disorganized state of relativity (ex. knowing specific answers that can reveal further answers by comparison and complex, painstaking problem solving... Hard to explain). Why cant I just simply remember stuff and look at the bare bones of things?

Now, the things I have tried in the past 5 days, or so, include, intentionally looking out of my right eye, using the right side of my face more with facial expressions, sleeping on my left side (allows better blood flow to my left hemisphere and more natural right eye use) and, least of all, breathing out of my right nostril. I know, pretty ridiculous, however I am desperate to do what is necessary.

Please guys, help me develop a way to slowly (just because I know it wont happen in a week) shift my hemisphere dominance.

Also, I hate reading books but I love stories. Understand where I'm coming from here?

Edited by sparkk51, 11 September 2011 - 04:21 AM.

[platypus]

Isn't the right-left hemisphere stuff largely a myth, i.e. just psychobabble? Your approach does not have a sound basis.

ps. what's the difference between solving problems step-by-step and solving them in a straightforward and linear manner?

[sparkk51]

Isn't the right-left hemisphere stuff largely a myth, i.e. just psychobabble? Your approach does not have a sound basis.

ps. what's the difference between solving problems step-by-step and solving them in a straightforward and linear manner?

No, It is definitely not "psychobbable". I suggest you look up more about the subject.

And when I spoke of visualizing the steps in my head I am saying that I am unable to naturally think of the next logical move step-by-step. Instead I must get a holistic view of the problem I am solving and where I am at in order to know what to work on next. Sorry, It's too complicated and vague for me to easily describe.

[Brainbox]

See it as a gift and try to develop the things you want to change enhance. Read on the subject (or listen to audio books), find a good coach and apply it the trial and error way.

[sparkk51]

Please, suggestions from anyone would be greatly appreciated. I know I want to do this, please don't try to convince me to appreciate what I have. I am sure there's absolutely no one on this forum who understands my current troubles.

Does anyone have any ideas to help me engage my left brain?

[hippocampus]

Do math. Lots of it.

[Brainbox]

I do understand what you are going through. I think.

Try to discover the structure of things, like math problems or how people engage in conversation. For me it helps to see a math problem in a visual way, e.g. a differentiation function as an exaggeration or measure of change. If the increasing speed of a car is a function to be differentiated, then pressing the pedal is the derivative. Simple example, not exactly correct, but it comes close, and for the principle it works. Try to visually understand it and use that as a kind of "placeholder" to remember the details you need to form and solve the formulas.

I have a similar issue since I think more in the line of relations, not only between people, but also structures like e.g. a room with doors and windows. I see and remember the structure of it dominantly (where the doors and windows are, the shape, etc). Most people view a room in terms of what they can or have to do with it, e.g. how to enter and leave. Structural relations as opposed to procedural usage. Or a space oriented view as opposed to time oriented view. If you understand the structure, it is always possible to derive how to use it. If you only understand the usage, it's quite hard to see the structure. But if you see the structure dominantly, it costs more time and hence it will be harder to derive it's use. So in that case it seems there is a disadvantage, but the fact is there is sometimes even a more complete understanding.

Seeing and doing things differently does not mean that it's incorrect. Just more difficult to comprehend if you do not have the same view as most of the others. Try to find what works for you. At the end, it is important that you are able to communicate your insight to your environment as well. That's what I meant with enhancing your capabilities.

And yes, to be able to visualize things your way, you have to understand things your way. So practice is very important indeed. And talk to your teachers how you understand parts so that they understand how your mind works and are able to help you finding your overview. Mostly, math teachers are clever people who also have trouble to communicate their high level of insight to young students and probably will understand where you come from better then you think. They have a large vocabulary to explain things, normally they only use the parts of their vocabulary that match the majority of students.

Edited by Brainbox, 16 September 2011 - 08:30 PM.

[thereisway]

This is distant post but I totally relate to your situation because its like you stole my brain and expressed what I usually find hard to explain myself..

 

I am going to try Oxiracetam as it has been touted a left-brain racetam

 

Although I am more right brain I am more interested in Whole brain/Dual brain i.e being able to utilize left and right brain capabilities