Have you heard people described as "left-brained" or "right-brained"? In the 1960s, research on the brain's hemispheres gave rise to the idea that one side of a person's brain—the right or the left—may be more dominant than the other. While there is no solid support for it, many people latched onto the thought that the side of your brain you use more might actually determine aspects of your personality. Through this research, the left hemisphere is typically associated with reasoning skills, while the right hemisphere is associated with creativity and intuition.
While actual right-brain/left-brain dominance seems to be a myth, there's no doubt that some people are more methodical and analytical, and others are more creative and intuitive. If you’re curious to know whether you’re more supposedly "right-brained" or "left-brained," we have the answer! Take this quiz to learn about how your mind works and processes information.
Questions Overview
- I base decisions on cold, hard facts, even if my instincts say otherwise.
- I could go either way, but I’m more likely to use my head over my heart.
- I tend to use my intuition, but logic wins out occasionally.
- I go with my gut above everything else. It’s important to trust yourself!
- Statistics, no contest.
- Probably statistics, but both sound interesting.
- Most likely photography, but I feel like I could do either.
- Definitely photography.
- Methodically. I organize them by importance and finish them one by one.
- I organize them by importance but jump from project to project when I’m bored.
- I prioritize them by how interesting they are to me and complete them one by one.
- Sporadically. I jump around a lot, but make sure they get done eventually.
- I absolutely hate it and organize everything as soon as possible.
- It’s definitely not ideal; I organize it when I have time.
- I don’t mind clutter, but I try rearranging it so it’s at least easier to find stuff.
- I leave it cluttered—it’s my creative mess!
- Not at all. I stick to a tight schedule, and that’s how I like it.
- Occasionally. I tend to follow a schedule, but I can bend it if I have to.
- Sometimes. I don't really like routines, but I schedule things when I have to.
- Who needs consistency? Routine is boring, so I just go with the flow.
- I followed them to the letter. All my teachers said I was super well-behaved.
- I followed most of the rules I was given but occasionally asked why first.
- I tried to be respectful, but I definitely questioned a lot of rules.
- I was a wild child! I broke rules often and hated being told what to do.
- I describe the hairstyle in a ton of detail.
- I offer the most important details and let the barber fill in the rest.
- I find an approximate photo and offer a few details as well.
- I create a collage of hairstyle photos that I can share with the stylist.
- I never daydream. I prefer to focus on the task in front of me.
- I daydream from time to time, but I wouldn’t say it’s a habit.
- I definitely daydream when I’m bored, but I can refocus when I have to.
- All the time. I have a pretty strong imagination.
- Neat. Every type of clothing has its own spot and stays carefully folded.
- It’s organized, but I tend to group clothes by style—formal wear, work stuff, etc.
- I keep all my clothing in one spot but don’t really take the time to fold or organize.
- Messy. Clothes are on the floor, on my bed, in the guest room—I don’t organize.
- I plan it down to the tiniest detail. I want everything to go perfectly!
- I plan the important stuff—food, drinks, activities—but don’t stress the details.
- I ask a good friend to help me. Planning isn’t my forte, but I know I need to!
- I play it by ear. Planning is no fun; I prefer having fun in the moment.
- I tell every detail of the story with perfect accuracy.
- I give a pretty detailed account, but I don’t ramble for too long.
- I give a summary but add a few of the most interesting details.
- I get straight to the point—why get lost in details?
- I remember their names and important details but don’t really recall faces.
- I tend to remember names, but important facial features also stand out.
- I’m better with faces than with names, but sometimes I can connect the dots.
- I remember faces, but I’m terrible with names.
More Quizzes
Left-Brain vs. Right-Brain People
What does right vs. left brain mean? There are two different hemispheres (or sides) of a person’s brain, and each side processes information differently and manages certain functions. According to a theory stemming from brain hemisphere research by Nobel Prize winner Roger W. Sperry in the 1960s, one side of the brain is more dominant for every person. The idea is that some people rely on the right side of their brain more often, while others use the left side—which results in different behavior and personality traits.
However, it’s important to note that, while it’s true that each side of your brain manages different functions, there’s no concrete evidence that some people use one part of their brain over the other. Rather, both halves of your brain play a part in your day-to-day functioning, and the exact level at which you function is something that varies from person to person.
Still, defining your personality according to this theory may help you understand yourself better, even if no formal classifications are involved. So, according to Sperry's theory, what do the right brain and left brain do? Take a look.
The right brain is associated with creativity and intuition. Also called the “analog” side of your brain, Sperry theorized that the right side of the brain handles more creative or artistic skills. His research states that you’re likely using your right brain when it comes to things like:
- Imagination
- Rhythm and music
- Intuitive thinking
- Arts
- Daydreaming
- Visualization of feelings
- Holistic thinking
The left brain is associated with reasoning skills. Sometimes called the “digital” side of your brain, Sperry’s research states that the left brain excels at logical, rational, and calculation-based tasks. As such, he believed that the left brain mainly assists you with things like:
- Sequencing
- Linear thinking
- Recalling facts
- Memorization
- Thinking in words
- Mathematics.
What do your quiz results really mean for you? Ultimately, both sides of your brain play an important role in your life, even if it seems like you actually use one side more. Scientifically, it’s impossible to have a brain with one side functioning at 100% and one side not functioning at all, so these results shouldn’t be taken literally.
Whether you’re a graphic designer or a scientist, you function using both sides of your brain every single day. After all, you may be more creative or more rational, but that doesn’t mean you’re incapable of either! Rather, the results may simply indicate that you have a personal preference or tendency towards one type of thinking over another.
Want to learn more?
For more information about the different hemispheres of the brain and Sperry's theory, check out the following resources.
Medical Disclaimer
Any medically related content, whether User Content or otherwise found on the Service, is not intended to be medical advice or instructions for medical diagnosis or treatment, and no physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship is, or is intended to be, created.
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