Re-thinking the Brain

I am extremely interested in all the information that we are learning about the brain. In Pink's book "A Whole New Mind", a good portion of chapter one is dedicated to explaining how the brain works and the necessity of both working hemispheres. We hear alot about being more right-brained or left-brained and historically, the left-brain has been more praised for its analytical, problem-solving skills (one schooled in gender theory may call these traits "masculine") but recent studies show the right-brain as a champion for creative and innovative thinking capabilities. More and more we are seeing exercises for the right-brain, focusing on increasing creative ability. The right-brain, marked also by emotional intelligence and the ability to understand interpersonal cues would be more traditionally feminine qualities. Just something to think about!

I am very interested in this because I babysit a boy who has behavioral epilepsy, to put it simply. He has an under-active right brain and it is often targeted with seizures. When he has a seizure, he cannot control any of his emotions and often ends up breaking things, screaming, pulling out his hair and heaving. His parents travel to Chicago weekly to see a neuropsychologist to help remedy his seizures. It is interesting to see these two disciplines collaborating, something that Pink said does not happen often. It has been beneficial to study the brain and the functions of each area of the brain to understand his condition.