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The Human Mind 45

It processes information in a logical way and is closely associated with a person’s conscious
state. When different parts of the brain are in contention for control, it is usually the left
hemisphere cortex that acts as the final arbiter and failure in this control region can be dis-
astrous for the liar.

The right hemisphere is concerned with:

• creativity and perception;
• visual communication, pictures and even Mind Maps;
• imagination, mood and emotion, including humour;
• movements and sensory input on the left side of the body and the autonomic management

of most non-verbal communications;
• whole or holistic relationships;
• synthesis and connecting things together;
• autonomic control of the left side of the body.

The right hemisphere of the brain processes information in a non-sequential, spatial, holistic
and relational way and is closely associated with a person’s subconscious.

Twice as many twins are left handed (20%) as single births (10%)

The pineal gland (which is not duplicated in both hemispheres) is a pea-sized module,
which Descartes described as: ‘The seat of the human soul’. In fact, it is a biological master
clock, setting body rhythms for night and day. In reptiles and birds the pineal gland is just
under the skin and needs no input from the eyes to distinguish between night and day. It also
seems to be sensitive to magnetic waves and helps birds with navigation.

The limbic system (and especially the amygdala) is a very emotional little organ and has
direct access to the motor cortex. In people under the age of 20, the controlling frontal lobes
in the cerebrum are not fully developed and thus emotional reactions from the amygdala are
likely to burst out, sometimes with devastating results.

KEVIN THE OBNOXIOUS TEENAGER

You were wrong when you criticized your wired, over-active, amygdala over which he
eighteen-year-old son, Kevin, for being a has no conscious control.
bolshy so-and-so: his problem is a hard-

Job gravitation, hobbies and personal interests
People tend to behave and take up interests and jobs that match their dominant hemisphere.
This is admittedly a sweeping statement but most accountants, actuaries, lawyers and even
some investigators are left hemisphere dominant whereas HR specialists and artistes tend to
be driven, more often, by the right hemisphere. There are exceptions and a few accountants,
such as some of those employed by Enron and WorldCom, are dominated by their right hemi-
spheres and thus may be exceedingly creative.