Are you left-brained or right-brained?
Actually, the answer is: You’re neither.
There’s a common notion that “right-brained” people are more creative and emotionally adept, while their “left-brained” counterparts are more logical and skilled at math.i
It’s a myth.
While it’s true that the two sides of the brain have specialized functions,ii brain scans have failed to show any evidence for people favoring one side over the other.iii
That isn’t the only common misbelief about psychology.
In education, there is a widespread notion that children have distinctive “learning styles” — with some children being visual learners while others are verbal or tactile learners.
Research, however, suggests that while students may have different preferences, we all learn in fundamentally similar ways.iv
Perhaps the most famous psychological myth is that humans only use 10% of our brains.
This myth is partially rooted in a misunderstanding.
Under certain relaxed circumstances, we may only use 10%, but over the course of a day, we use every region of the brainv — which means you’re going to have to come up with a new excuse for why you lost your keys.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- It’s a myth that people are either left-brained or right-brained.
- There’s no good evidence for the existence of educational “learning styles.”
- It’s not true that we only use 10% of our brain and, in fact, nearly all of the brain is used throughout the day.
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