MODULE 7

(For 4days Sept.28-Oct.2, 2020)

THE POWER OF THE MIND: THE WHOLE BRAIN THEORY

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the module, the learners will able to:
1.) Discuss that understanding the left and right brain may help in improving one’s
learning.
2.) Explore two types of mind mapping techniques, each suited to right brain or left-
brain dominant thinking styles.
3.) make a plan to improve learning using the left and right brain through mind
mapping techniques.

ACTIVITY: Answer the following questions on the space provided.

1.) What do you know about the whole brain theory?
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2.) Watch these videos on www.youtube.com
- Whole Brain Thinking Part1
- Whole Brain Thinking Part2
- Whole Brain Thinking Part3
- Whole Brain Thinking Part4

Question: What are the implications of this theory with regards to personality and learning?
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READING: WHAT IS THE WHOLE BRAIN THEORY?

Scientists, medical doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists have always been

fascinated with the brain and how it works. Studies conducted on the brain often starts with
an attempt to understand a brain-related disease or malfunction. In 1861, Paul Broca
conducted a study on the language and left-right brain specification on a patient who had
problems with language. After several tests, Broca theorized that some language functions
reside on the left side of the brain. After more research were conducted on language
functions and the brain, other scientists continued their studies on brain-related diseases
and malfunctions.

Dr. Roger Sperry conducted a study for epilepsy, which gave him the 1981 Nobel
Prize for Physiology or Medicine. Sperry explained that the brain that the brain has two
hemispheres that perform tasks differently from each other. He discovered that the left
hemisphere of the brain was performing task that were intuitive, creative, and synthesizing,
while the right hemisphere of the brain was more adept with analytical, logical, reasoning,
and critical thinking. Dr. Sperry theory was known as the “Split-Brain Theory”.

Another neuroscientist by the name of Dr. Paul Maclean came up with a theory that
identified three distinct parts of the brain and known as “The Triune Brain Theory” these
are:
1.) Neocortex or rational brain – is responsible for intellectual tasks such as language,
planning, abstraction, and perception.

2.) Limbic system or intermediate brain – is responsible for the motivation and emotion
involved in feeding, reproductive behavior, and parental behavior.

3.) Reptilian complex or primitive brain – which controls the self-preservation and
aggressive behavior of humans similar to the survival instincts of animals.

The study of the brain of the brain and its multiple functions continued until an
Engineer at General Electric Ned Herrmann, was tasked to determine why some individuals
were more creative than others. After the drawing from the studies of Sperry, Herrmann
came up with his own theory called the “Brain Dominance Theory” which he derived from
observations and tests that the human body, although symmetrical and paired in almost all
aspects, do not necessarily function equally. People normally have a more dominant part of
their body like a more dominant leg, eye or arm, which person often prefers to use. For
example, a right-handed person will have a weaker left hand compared to the dominant
right hand and vice versa. Hence, there is such a thing as a stronger arm, leg, or hand and
where the weaker pair supports the stronger pair. Herrmann extended this dominance
theory to the brain, which he concluded to having not just two parts but four, the upper left
and right hemispheres and the lower left and right limbic halves. They are all connected to
each other. Herrmann is the “Father of Brain Dominance Technology”

Herrmann labeled the four quadrants of the brain as:

1.) Upper Left (A) Celebral Mode – key words for this quadrant is ANALYTICAL

2.) Lower Left (B) Limbic Mode – key word for this quadrant is ORGANIZED
3.) Lower Right (C) Limbic Mode – key word for this quadrant is INTERPERSONAL

4.) Upper Right (D) Limbic System – key word for this quadrant is I MAGINATIVE