The four sections of this tutorial discuss the functionality

of different parts of the brain and the art of creativity with

uncomplicated terminology and illustrations:
Busting Brain Myths
Comparing Right and Left Hemispheres
Functions of the Four Lobes
Exploring the Art of Creativity
Busting Brain Myths
One of the most innovative and popular drawing books of all
time, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (1979, 1989,
1999), was written by Dr. Betty Edwards. The books theories,
techniques, and exercises for teaching students how to draw
have greatly inuenced pop cultures perception of the Right/
Left brain dichotomy. To some extent, Drawing on the Right
Side of the Brain was based on what was ground-breaking
research during the 1960s and 1970s.
Today, modern research disputes many of the Right/Left
hemispheric theories presented before 1995. Over the last
two decades, functional similarities and differences between
the two hemispheres of the brain have been extensively
researched and studies show that both brain hemispheres
interact in complex ways during activities such as drawing.
ISBN: 978-1-927539-37-8
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Drawing on Both
Sides of Your Brain
An introduction to how your brain works with a focus
on hemispheric functionality and creativity
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 13.7
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 36.1
Drawspace Curriculum 2.2.R2 - 8 Pages and 11 Illustrations
ArtSpeak
Creativity: The
ability to create
unique, original,
and functional ideas
beyond the familiar or
established.
Neural: Relative to, or
located in a nerve or
the nervous system.
Lateral: A strong
neural response on
either the left or right
brain hemisphere.
Bilateral: Neural
responses on both
left and right brain
hemispheres.
Interhemispheric:
Pertaining to both
hemispheres of the
brain (right and left.)
Neuroscience: The
scientic study of
the human bodys
nervous system.
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Drawspace Curriculum 2.2.R2
ISBN: 978-1-927539-37-8
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Neural responses in both the left and
right hemisphere have been noted
during virtually every task associated
with drawing from the initial
conception of an idea through to the
execution of the nal work.
In addition, both hemispheres
are active during the early stages
of the most important aspect of
drawing: visual processing. This
bilateral processing produces a far
more accurate exchange of visual
information than either the left or right
hemisphere alone.
In fact, almost all brain functions are
bilateral to some degree. Even lateral
functions often involve some neural
activity on the opposite side of the
brain.
Comparing Right and
Left Hemispheres
Each hemisphere of your brain
interacts primarily with one half of your
body. If the human body were logically
designed, the right hemisphere would
control the right side of the body
and vice versa. However, the wires
somehow got crossedliterally!
In fact, the right hemisphere of the
brain interacts with the left side of the
body, and vice versa.
For the most part, the functionality of
the left and right sides of the brain is
symmetrical. For instance, the section
of the left hemisphere that controls
the right hand is located in the same
section of the right hemisphere that
controls the left hand.
As an Aside
During the 1960s and 1970s, Dr. Roger Wolcott
Sperry studied epileptics who had already had
their right and left brain hemispheres surgically
disconnected to treat their seizures.
Based on his studies of these specic patients, Dr.
Sperry applied the following broad conclusion to
the human brain in general:
The two disconnected hemispheres function
independently and in effect have each a separate
mind of its own.
Each of the separated hemispheres appears to
have its own private sensations, perceptions,
thoughts, feelings, memories.
Each hemisphere has its own inner visual world,
each cut off from the conscious awareness of the
other.
ArtSpeak
Ambidextrous: Demonstrating the ability to use
both the left and right hand equally well to perform
such tasks as writing, drawing, or playing sports.
Asymmetry: An imbalance or lack of equivalence
(symmetry) between parts of a whole.
Cognition: The process by which the brain
recognizes and understands information.
Cortex: The folded brain matter that makes up the
outer layer of the cerebrum and plays a critical role
in consciousness.
Divergent thinking: A thought process that
explores various possible scenarios to generate
creative concepts.
Localized: Associated with a specic area of the
brain.
Visual-object intelligence: Ones ability to
process the visual properties of an object, such as
texture, shape and color.
Visual-spatial intelligence: Ones ability to
process the ways in which objects are spatially
oriented and relative to one another in space.
ISBN: 978-1-927539-37-8
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
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Drawspace Curriculum 2.2.R2
A major exception to this theory of functional symmetry is specic to language and spatial
cognition. Studies of stroke victims indicate that damage to the left hemisphere impairs
their ability to speak or comprehend language (Aphasia), whereas damage to the right
hemisphere causes very little impairment to these abilities.
Right Hemisphere Strengths
Studies indicate that the right hemisphere (Figure 1)
is more active than the left during the following:
solving problems intuitively
generating stories
using memory for navigation
looking at images of faces
shifting the gaze to the left
processing stimuli that evoke fear and
pessimism
maintaining alertness and vigilance
processing pain
Left Hemisphere Strengths
Studies indicate that the left hemisphere (Figure 2)
is more active than the right during the following:
reading and writing in English
shifting the gaze to the right
experiencing pleasure
processing motivation
Bilateral Functions
The right and left hemispheres (Figure 3) are
considered equally active during the following:
identifying categories of objects
looking at objects and living beings such as
buildings and human faces and bodies
using landmarks for navigation
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Temporal lobes (Figure 5) are located on the
sides of the cerebral cortex and contribute
to perception, memory, and the ability to
decipher auditory stimuli (hearing).
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ISBN: 978-1-927539-37-8
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Functions of the Four Lobes
The Frontal lobe (Figure 4) is located at the
front of the brain (duh!). This lobe is the most
active section of the cerebral cortex during
creative endeavors, and contributes to several
functions including reasoning, planning, parts
of speech and movement, emotions, and
problem-solving.
ArtSpeak
Frontal lobe: One of the brains four
main lobes, located in front of the
central sulcus. It is associated with
such functions as motor cortex (parts
of movement and speech), reasoning,
emotions, planning, and problem-
solving.
Temporal lobe: One of the brains four
main lobes, located below the lateral
ssure. It processes memory and
hearing.
Occipital lobe: One of the brains four
main lobes, located at the back of the
brain behind the temporal and parietal
lobes. It processes various aspects of
vision.
Parietal lobe: One of the brains four
main lobes, located behind the central
sulcus. It processes such stimuli as
pain, pressure, touch, and temperature.
As an Aside
Both right-handers and left-handers are
among the greatest artists ever known.
For example, Pablo Picasso was a
righty and Leonardo da Vinci a lefty.
As an Aside
Realistic drawings rendered by
ambidextrous artists tend to be more
detailed and accurate when the artists
use their left hand. In theory, the left
hand has a more direct access to the
perception processes localized in the
right hemisphere.
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 7
As an Aside
Research by Bhattacharya and Petsche (2002,
2005) measured and compared electrical activity in
the brains of artists and non-artists.
The results indicated that even when the artists were
not actively performing a creative task, there was
greater activity in their right hemisphere than in their
left. These results were signicantly less pronounced
in non-artists.
ISBN: 978-1-927539-37-8
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
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Drawspace Curriculum 2.2.R2
As an Aside
Interaction between the Temporal
and Frontal lobes dubbed the
fronto-temporal network (Figure
6) is critical for regulating creative
expression.
Decits in the Temporal lobe can
increase the type of frenzied
creativity sometimes observed in
manic states. Decits in the Frontal
lobe can inhibit creativity.
When theyre both functioning
normally and working well together,
they can inspire original artistic
concepts and creations.
The Parietal lobe (Figure 7) is
positioned behind the frontal lobe
and above the Occipital lobe and
contributes to your perception of
stimuli such as touch, pressure,
temperature and pain.
The 21st century has ushered in a
renewed interest in the mysterious
phenomenon known as creativity. Even
denitions of creativity still vary amongst
experts on the subject. Most of these
experts do agree, however, that a
creative entity exhibits both originality
and usefulness.
When it comes to drawing, its clear that
originality can make a drawing more
creative. Usefulness, on the other
hand, is more subjective.
Illustrations or drawings created for
educational purposes are considered
useful. However, the process of drawing
in itself must also be considered useful
particularly as it helps artists gain new
skills and enhance brain functions.
Figure 6
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Drawspace Curriculum 2.2.R2
ISBN: 978-1-927539-37-8
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Both sides of the Parietal
lobe are active when
drawing (Figure 8).
ArtSpeak
Electroencephalography
(EEG): an electrical brain
recording that measures
voltage uctuations within
the neurons of the brain.
EEG recordings are
sometimes used to study
creative processing in the
brain.
Functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI):
a scan that measures blood
ow and neural activity in
the brain. fMRI scans are
the second most common
tool used to study creativity
in the brain, next to EEG
recordings.
As an Aside
When artists are engaged in creative thinking, the medial
prefrontal cortex and the brains sensory regions are more
active than other areas of the brain. Therefore, this area is often
considered the creative hub of the brain.
The right hemisphere
of the Parietal lobe
(Figure 9) contributes
to various creative
functions involved
with imagery and
visualization. Its left
hemisphere (Figure
10) is more involved
with mathematics,
reading, writing,
and understanding
symbols.
As an Aside
In the 2011 paper, Lateral thinkers are not so laterally minded:
Hemispheric asymmetry, interaction, and creativity, AK Lindell
describes creativity as a tool which has helped humans adapt
and survive. The paper cites studies which suggest that creative
people are actually healthier and more attractive to others.
Lindell writes,
Given that creativity is closely linked to general intelligence
which is, in turn, linked to overall genetic quality, creativity
can be seen as a signal of genetic viability (Haselton & Miller,
2006), presumably contributing to the greater mating success
noted in creative individuals. As such, creativity is an important
component of optimal human functioning (Bloom, 2001),
enhancing problem solving, adaptability, and self-expression
(Runco, 2004). The hallmark of creativity is divergent thinking:
the generation of multiple novel solutions to a given problem.
Figure 8 Figure 9
Figure 10
Exploring the Art of
Creativity
Humans tend to measure their
uniqueness in the animal kingdom by
their abilities to communicate using
language and to create within the
arts and sciences. While creativity
is still considered a bit of a mystery,
current research does agree that
creativity requires strong cooperation
and communication between both
brain hemispheres.
While the right hemisphere tends
to show more activity than the left
in creative processing, creativity
depends on the exchange of
information between both right and
left hemispheres.
ISBN: 978-1-927539-37-8
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
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Drawspace Curriculum 2.2.R2
As an Aside
Modern science has provided
researchers with innovative tools
to study creativity. For example:
during the creative process, an
artists brain can be examined with
an Electroencephalography (EEG)
recording to capture electrical activity in
the brains cortex. A functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) scan can also
be used to record changes in the brains
blood ow while a person is engaged in
creative pursuits.
In her 2008 paper, Both Sides Now:
Visualizing and Drawing with the Right
and Left Hemispheres of the Brain,
University of Southern Maine professor,
Dr. Irene Schiferl cites neuroscience
research conducted since 1995 using
fMRI, PET and EEG scans which
indicates that visual processing requires
cooperation from both hemispheres.
The Occipital lobe (Figure 11), located at the
back of the brain behind the Parietal lobe and
Temporal lobe, processes many aspects of
vision.
Even though the four lobes dont have precise
boundaries, research suggests that each plays
a specic role in the process of creating and
appreciating art.
For example, when you examine an artwork,
the Parietal lobe may process the spatial
layout, the Temporal lobe may give names
to the subjects, and the Occipital lobe may
process contrast, form, and other critical
elements of vision. The Frontal lobe, in addition
to being involved in the business of the other
three lobes, may also determine how long you
look at the work before turning away.
As an Aside
In a survey of 69 patients, Miller, Boone, Cummings,
Read, and Mishkin (2000) compared cerebral blood
ow in patients with and without enhanced creativity
following the onset of an illness. Their ndings
suggest that decits of the left temporal lobe lead
to an increase in right hemisphere activity and
subsequent enhanced visual creativity.
Figure 11
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Drawspace Curriculum 2.2.R2
ISBN: 978-1-927539-37-8
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
As an Aside
All creative individuals encounter times when new
ideas are hard to nd. The old adage, My muse has
left me often echoes in their studios. According to the
ancient Greeks, creativity was the result of the actions
and interventions of one of their nine muses.
Philosophers and theorists, from Plato to Popper also
considered creativity to originate with a mystic, instead
of the cognition of the artist.
In fact, even the most strongly lateralized
processes, such as language articulation, involve
some activation and integration of processes
across both sides of the brain.
Todays research implies that artistic training,
such as learning to draw, enhances creative
abilities. The long-held assumption that artistic
abilities are strictly genetic is now giving way
to the theory that both nature and nurture
contribute to creativity.
Such ndings also suggest that creative
training such as learning to draw or paint
enhances communication between the two brain
hemispheres.
Creativity is unique to each person. Your
mind is inseparably linked to your ve senses,
which help you gather information about your
environment. Creative thoughts during the
process of rendering art are connected to your
own interpretation of your environment.
As an Aside
Right or left handedness often affects
the directionality of an artists subjects,
especially when they are drawing from
their imaginations:
Right-handers tend to draw
subjects, such as faces in prole,
facing the left and left-handers
tend to draw them facing the
right.
Right-handers usually render
subjects in motion, such as a
horse or car, travelling toward
the left whereas left-handers are
more prone to draw them moving
toward the right.
As an Aside
Studies indicate that left-handed
individuals have greater cooperation
between their right and left brain
hemispheres.
Hence, left-handers are more likely
to engage in creative professions,
score higher on creative thinking tests,
and display a greater capacity for
divergent thinking than right-handers.