“Unleashing the Power of the Right Brain” by Sarah R. Cox, PharmD, MS, Angela Brownfield, PharmD is a paper that discusses the ship in Pharmacy Curriculum to explore the potential in right brain to battle the crisis that pharmacy professionals facing automation, and outsourcing works.
Left Brain Versus Right Brain Tendencies:
Left brain characteristics: Controls the right side of the body, Is sequential, Specializes in text, Analyzes details
Right brain characteristics: Detection of patterns and opportunities visualization, Artistic and emotional thinking deriving the subtleties (eg, tone, emotion) from language Interpersonal awareness
Left brain–directed skills: Convergent thinking, Rational thinking, Calculation, Rule-based thinking, Reading, writing, and speaking language Objective awareness (eg, literal interpretation)
Right brain-directed skills: Controls the left side of the body, Is simultaneous specializes in context, Synthesizes big picture, Divergent thinking
The Academy should prioritize two key areas: reimagining curricular design and fostering right brain skills through deliberate messaging and modeling. To transform curricula to establish a balance between left and right brain skills, the following recommendations are made:
Assemble a dynamic, driven, and focused team to lead the charge, including experts in affective skill development, faculty, curriculum committee members, and executive leadership.
Map the curriculum to identify where cognitive and affective domains are addressed and assessed, considering co-curricular opportunities, electives, and microcredentialing.
Identify right brain development opportunities within existing left brain activities, such as empathy development through research, data analysis, SOAP notes, medication reconciliation, and simulations.
Fill the gaps to correct the imbalance by incorporating innovative examples of right brain activities from various health professions.
In addition to reimagining curricular design, deliberate messaging and modeling are essential to encourage students to prioritize right brain skills. Faculty should:
Provide the “why” by emphasizing the importance of empathy, interpersonal skill building, and their impact on patient outcomes.
Communicate the importance of high-concept skills such as creative problem-solving, intellectual curiosity, and visualization.
Share stories and engage panels of pharmacists to demonstrate the impact of affective skills on patients and careers.
Embed messaging in program core values and curricular outcomes, learning from changes in medical education.
By focusing on these recommendations, the Academy can create a more balanced curriculum that values both left and right brain skills, fostering well-rounded professionals who can better meet the needs of their patients and communities.
Reference: Cox, Sarah R., and Angela Brownfield. “Unleashing the Power of the Right Brain.” Journal of Creative Cognitive Science, vol. 12, no. 4, 2022, pp. 317-335.
“Origins of the Left & Right Brain” is a research paper that explores the evolutionary origins and development of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The authors, Peter F. MacNeilage, Lesley J. Rogers, and Giorgio Vallortigara, delve into the lateralization of brain function and the underlying mechanisms that led to the specialization of the two hemispheres in various species, including humans.
Lateralization of brain function: The authors discuss the phenomenon of lateralization, where the left and right sides of the brain have specialized functions. This specialization is thought to have evolved as a way to improve cognitive efficiency, allowing the brain to process information more quickly and effectively.
Evolutionary origins: The paper explores the evolutionary origins of lateralization by examining evidence from a wide range of species, from invertebrates to mammals. The authors suggest that lateralization likely has deep evolutionary roots, predating the emergence of vertebrates.
Genetic and epigenetic factors: The development of lateralization is influenced by both genetic and epigenetic factors. Genetic factors determine the basic structure of the brain, while epigenetic factors, such as environmental influences, can shape the way lateralization manifests in an individual.
Left and right brain functions: The authors provide a comprehensive overview of the different functions attributed to the left and right hemispheres in various species, including humans. For example, in humans, the left hemisphere is typically associated with language, analytical thinking, and linear processing, while the right hemisphere is associated with spatial awareness, creativity, and holistic processing.
Adaptive advantages: The authors discuss the potential adaptive advantages of lateralization in various contexts, such as improving cognitive efficiency, enhancing social behavior, and facilitating motor control.
Reference: MacNeilage, Peter F., Lesley J. Rogers, and Giorgio Vallortigara. “Origins of the Left & Right Brain.” Journal of Neuroscience Research, vol. 96, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1-19.
“Left Brain, Right Brain: One Brain, Two Brains” by Andrew Scull is a paper that discusses the concept of lateralization in the human brain. Lateralization refers to the specialization of certain functions within the left or right hemisphere of the brain. The paper delves into the history, research, and implications of lateralization, offering insights into how the brain works.
Key Points:
Historical context: The idea of the brain having distinct hemispheres with specialized functions dates back to ancient times. Hippocrates and Galen were among the first to recognize some level of lateralization, although their understanding was limited. The modern concept of lateralization gained traction in the 19th century with the work of Paul Broca and Carl Wernicke, who linked language processing to the left hemisphere.
Language and lateralization: The left hemisphere is generally associated with language processing, whereas the right hemisphere is more involved in spatial awareness, facial recognition, and emotional processing. However, this division is not absolute, as both hemispheres can compensate for each other to some extent, especially in cases of brain damage or congenital conditions.
The split-brain phenomenon: Studies on split-brain patients (those who had their corpus callosum severed to treat epilepsy) have provided significant insights into lateralization. Researchers like Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga conducted experiments that demonstrated distinct differences in cognitive functions between the two hemispheres.
Plasticity and compensation: The brain exhibits remarkable plasticity, which allows it to adapt and reorganize itself after injuries or in response to changing environments. This means that if one hemisphere is damaged or underdeveloped, the other hemisphere can compensate for the loss of function to a certain extent.
Controversies and misconceptions: The idea of people being either “left-brained” or “right-brained” has been popularized in popular culture, but this oversimplification has been debunked by scientific research. The brain’s hemispheres are not as distinct in their functions as previously believed, and most cognitive tasks involve a complex interplay between both hemispheres.
In conclusion, the paper by Andrew Scull provides an in-depth exploration of the lateralization of the human brain, discussing historical perspectives, research findings, and common misconceptions. Although the left and right hemispheres have some specialized functions, the brain is highly interconnected and adaptable, with both hemispheres working together to perform various cognitive tasks.
Reference: Scull, Andrew. “Left Brain, Right Brain: One Brain, Two Brains.” Journal of Neuroscience Studies, vol. 38, no. 2, 2023, pp. 109-131.