The left hemisphere of the brain PARSES (breaks
into small pieces, names, categories, small visual details) all information
it receives. This is accomplished by feeding incoming information into two
verbal language areas of the left hemisphere, Broca's and Wernicke's areas.
Here the information is quickly fitted into boxes with fixed labels and
meanings, designated words, and sequential order. This is at the expense
of the appreciation of the cognitive and creative contributions of the non-speaking,
mute, right hemisphere. The left hemisphere clearly sees itself as "in
charge" and "in control," as it simultaneously inhibits access
to mental processes of the right hemisphere.
Until the recent scientific recognition of the important contributions of the right hemisphere to perception, thought, and cognition, as shown in the experiments of Dr. Roger Sperry, the right hemisphere was considered only a mute and non-participating twin in the processes of mental activity. This negative view that left hemispheric functions have of the contributions of the visio-spatial right hemisphere persists to this day and is perhaps partially responsible for the low educational status which art education holds in contemporary schools. The two attached charts in this section show some of the most negative conclusions every conscious left hemisphere has for the "non-speaking" functions of the right.
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