Reyes, Lalaine M.

SPEECOM C31

Informative Speech Outline

Topic: Brain Lateralization

1. Introduction

1.1. How many among you consider yourselves as right-handed? How about the

left-handed ones?

1.2. We grew up thinking that we can be determined only either as a “righty” or a

“lefty”, depending solely on the dominant hand that we use in writing.

1.3. Brain lateralization reveals that people can show preference towards their right, or

their left, or even both at the same time.

2. Body

2.1. The dominance of the left side of our brain leads to the dominance of the right

side of our body. (Carr, n.d.)

2.1.1. Right-handers make up the majority of the population.

2.1.2. The brain’s left hemisphere is activated when one uses his or her right

hand. (Mazoyer, 2014)

2.1.3. Skills relating to “logic, differences, numbers and letters, reasoning and

analysis, sequentiality, literal focus, and details” can be attributed to the

left hemisphere. (Bosman, 2004)

2.1.4. Right-handers are associated with convergent style of thinking. (Ruebeck,

Harrington, & Moffitt, 2006)

2.2. The dominance of the right side of our brain leads to the dominance of the left

side of our body. (Carr, n.d.)

2.2.1. Generally, only 10% of the population is left-handed. (Khosravizadeh &

Teimournezhad, 2011)

2.2.2. Left-handers have developed a negative connotation in history over the

years. (Bosman, 2004)

2.2.3. The body’s left side is controlled by the right hemisphere, hence,

left-handers “enjoy right hemisphere dominance in terms of linguistic

processes to a greater degree than right-handers do.” (Khosravizadeh &

Teimournezhad, 2011)

2.2.4. Skills relating to “gestalt, similarities, images and meaning, emotions and

intuition, rhythm and flow, humor and mood, and farsightedness” can be

attributed to the right hemisphere. (Bosman, 2004)

2.2.5. Left-handers are associated with divergent style of thinking or moving

outward from conventional knowledge into unexplored association.

(Ruebeck, Harrington, & Moffitt, 2006)

2.2.6. Various disorders or disabilities are more common to left-handers who are

said to be lacking consistent cerebral asymmetry. (Corballis, Hattie, &

Fletcher, 2007)

2.3. Brain lateralization caused asymmetries in our bodies leading to varying

preferences for right- and left-body dominance in different given tasks.

2.3.1. “Brain lateralization is the view that one of the hemispheres of the brain

has or develops a special responsibility for language.” (Khosravizadeh &

Teimournezhad, 2011)

2.3.2. Each of our brain develops differently, which leads to uniqueness in

lateralization.

2.3.3. This means that aside from our handedness, our bodies show different

dominant sides when we perform different activities.

2.3.3.1. What seems to be your dominant side when winking?

2.3.3.2. What seems to be your dominant side when raising your eyebrow?

2.3.3.3. What seems to be your dominant side when testing your eye?

2.3.3.4. What seems to be your dominant side when listening?

2.3.3.5. What seems to be your dominant side when putting your hands

together?

2.3.4. Several factors can also affect to the development or basis of

lateralization.

2.3.4.1. Genetic influences can be a crucial element in the development of

cerebral lateralization. (Khosravizadeh & Teimournezhad, 2011)

2.3.4.2. “Environment also plays a significant role in the development of

brain lateralization.” (Khosravizadeh & Teimournezhad, 2011)

3. Conclusion

3.1. It is important to consider not only our handedness, but our preference towards

the right, left, or even both sides in accordance to brain lateralization. (Air

University, n.d.)

3.2. Brain lateralization, which can be used to determine one’s preference over brain

hemisphere, can identify one’s personality and strengths that is of value in making

lifelong career decisions. (Air University, n.d.)

3.3. Being knowledgeable of brain lateralization can be a tool for one to develop areas

or skills where one shows weakness or less preference so that it may be

continuously developed into becoming a more well-rounded person that is

important in many career paths. (Air University, n.d.)

 References

Air University. (n.d.). Lesson 5: The Left-Brain/Right-Brain. Chapter 1: Know Yourself -

Socrates. Retrieved from:
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/rotc_right-left_brain.pdf

Bosman, R. (2004). Librarians and Left-Handedness: A Speculative Exploration. A Mater’s

Paper for the M.s. in L.S. degree. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Retrieved
from: https://ils.unc.edu/MSpapers/2915.pdf

Carr, H. (n.d.). Asymmetry, Lateralization, and Alternating Rhythms of the Human Body.
Retrieved from:
https://www.posturalrestoration.com/_resources/dyn/files/1457019z46a73b17/_fn/Human
+Asymmetry%2C+Lateralization%2C+and+Alternating+Rhythms+Part+4.pdf

Corballis, M., Hattie, J., & Richard, F. (2007). Handedness and intellectual achievement: An
even-handed look. Retrieved from:
https://www.academia.edu/23016791/Handedness_and_intellectual_achievement_An_ev
en-handed_look

Khosravizadeh, P., & Teimournezhad, S. (2011). Handedness and Lateralization of the Brain.
Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience. Volume 2, Issue 1, ISSN
2067-3957.

Mazoyer, B. (2014). A dominant hemisphere for handedness and language. National Press
Release. Retrieved from: http://www2.cnrs.fr/sites/en/fichier/cp_cerveau_mazoyer.pdf

Ruebeck, C., Harrington, J., & Moffitt, R. (2006). Handedness and Earnings. National Bureau of
Economic Research. Retrieved from: https://www.nber.org/papers/w12387.pdf