FUNCTIONAL HEMISPHERE ASYMMETRY
BRAIN.
The brain consists of three large parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum and the brain stem. In terms of size and functional significance, the large brain plays a leading role. Therefore, in a simplified form, it can be called the brain. The brain consists of the left and right hemispheres. Morphologically or in form they are very similar to each other. However, they cannot be called paired organs, since in functional terms they are not unambiguous. The left hemisphere is responsible for the intellectual activity of a person, and the right one for its emotional characteristics. Given the fact that it is in the sphere of their functional activity that the personality characteristics of a person are located, his behavior, habits, emotions, intellectual abilities and, ultimately, his fate, the study of the brain is an urgent need. In addition, this is an extremely interesting activity that brings us more and more surprises. So we found that in the bulk of our people, the right hemisphere is more active than the left, since the right hemisphere is responsible for the formation of a negative emotional status of a person, we can assume that we are all more emotional than rational and, moreover, negatively emotional. Simply put, we are very angry, aggressive and vindictive. And this, first of all, hits us ourselves, it is very harmful to our family and social relations, undermines our health and shortens our life by 10-15 years. How to fix this situation?
The functions of the cerebral hemispheres
Functional ambiguity of the cerebral hemispheres was identified based on data on speech disorders. The discovery is rooted in the second half of the XIX century. Based on the results of the postmortem examination of patients who were speechless, the French clinician P. Broka established a connection between this disease and damage to nerve cells in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere of the brain. Somewhat later, S. Wemecxe described the loss of the ability of oral verbal communication, the so-called sensory aphasia, in a patient with damage to the temporal gyrus of the same hemisphere. Further, it was found that the left hemisphere of the brain dominates not only in speech, but also in the processes of reading, writing, counting, logical thinking ability. The concept of the dominance of the left hemisphere of the brain was formulated. The right hemisphere seemed subordinate and lacking specific properties.
However, the clinic accumulated facts clarifying the importance of the right hemisphere in the formation of the emotional status of a person. In 1881, B. Luys, examining patients with focal brain lesions and a complete loss of voluntary movements of one half of the body (hemiplegia), showed that the right hemisphere of the brain plays a dominant role in the sphere of emotions. Somewhat later, the dominance of the right hemisphere in the expression of emotions was determined by H Sackkeim. It turned out that the right hemisphere is responsible for emotions and, to a greater extent, for negative emotions. With the predominance of the function of the right hemisphere, a person is prone to negativity perceiving the environment. He sees, first of all, the negative aspects of events, remembers them better and remembers them longer. Thus, with the dominant activity of the right hemisphere over the left, a negative emotional profile of the personality is formed, the severity of which depends on the degree of this activity. Further research in this area showed a deeper relationship in terms of the functional relations of the left and right hemispheres, their mutually complementary specialization. As it turned out, the functional asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres is ambiguous, complex mosaic, has age-related features. However, it is quite reasonable and with a fairly high degree of certainty that the left hemisphere is more verbally logical, responsible for the intellectual level of personality, while the right hemisphere is more spatially = sensory. The high level of activity of one hemisphere or another determines the psychological type of personality. Functional ambiguity of the cerebral hemispheres was formed during the evolution of the central nervous system (CNS).
CNS evolution.
In the development of the nervous system of animals, it is customary to distinguish three consecutive stages or three types of the nervous system: diffuse, nodular and tubular. The first multicellular organisms, such as the freshwater polyp hydra, have a diffuse nervous system.
Nerve cells are located on the entire surface of the outer layer of the hydra. They have a star-shaped shape, since they are equipped with long processes. The processes of closely located nerve cells are in contact with each other, and some of them are in contact with skin and muscle cells. The working state of a nerve cell is arousal. If you touch a hydra with a thin needle, then the excitation from irritation of one of the nerve cells is transmitted along the processes to other nerve cells, and from them to the skin-muscle cells. Muscle fibers are contracted, and the hydra is compressed into a small lump.
Further development of the nervous system leads to the fact that nerve cells scattered throughout the body of our previously described hydra, nerve cells are gradually grouped into nerve chains and nerve nodes - accumulations of nerve cells. The first representative in whom we observe the nodular nervous system are flatworms and their typical representative is the white planaria. This worm 1-2cm long, living in ponds and streams, has a white body with a translucent intestine full of dark food. One of the features of the planarium nervous system is bilateral symmetry. Its right side looks like a mirror image of the left. All planar organs are located in pairs on both sides of an imaginary plane that runs along the body of the animal. Bilateral symmetry is characteristic of most multicellular animals, including humans. Planaria has two nerve trunks on its sides. In the anterior part, both nerve trunks end with large nerve nodes connected together. In annelid worms, they form into large sub-pharyngeal and suprasopharyngeal nodes. These two large nodes and nerve trunks are the precursors of the modern central nervous system of vertebrates and humans.
A larger sub-pharyngeal node provides tactile, and supraglottal - digestive functions. Further, in the process of evolution, the supra-pharyngeal node moves to the left, and the sub-pharyngeal node to the right and up. Thus, the right and left hemispheres of the brain are formed. Rotational movements of the nasopharyngeal and subpharyngeal nodes connected to the nerve trunks lead to the crossing of the nerve pathways. Two nerve trunks plunge deep into muscle tissue and, connecting together, form the primary spinal cord. The functional and morphological ambiguity of the supopharyngeal and sub-pharyngeal nodes caused the functional ambiguity of the left and right hemispheres of the human brain.
functional typology
Functional asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres makes it possible to classify people according to the degree of relative activity of the left or right hemispheres of the brain. Psychologists have always tried to divide people into psychophysiological types.
The first attempt at such a classification of people goes back in time. In the 5th century BC the ancient Greek physician, reformer of ancient medicine Hippocrates created a teaching according to which the human body consists of 4 elements: air, water, fire, and earth. It was assumed that the compounds of these elements create 4 substances: blood, mucus, black bile, yellow bile, which determine 4 types of person. A little later, 130-200 years BC, a follower of Hippocrates, the Greek physician Claudius Gallen proposed to distinguish 4 basic psychological types based on the emotional state of a person. This is a sanguine person - inclined to joy, a phlegmatic person - to calmness, a melancholic person - to longing and a choleric person - an angry type. This classification has withstood two millennia. The physiological connection of some diseases with psychotypes of people was revealed . So a melancholic prone to certain diseases of the cardiovascular system, vegetative-vascular dystonia, depression, schizoid psychopathy. Choleric, for example, is prone to dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, cramping, cramps, manic, hysteroid or epileptoid psychopathy. Knowledge of the psychotype is of great importance in medicine to clarify the diagnosis and treatment, as well as in the correction of social relations.
In the twentieth century, the study of psychotypes received a new direction related to psychoanalysis developed by Z. Freud. The most significant in this regard is the typology of C. Jung, one of the outstanding students of Z. Freud. He puts 4 classes of people at the core of his system: mental, sensitive, sensory, and intuitive. Each of these people of one or another class can prove to be both extrovert and introvert, forming a total of 8 psychotypes. According to the classification of C. Jung, an introvert is inclined to leave all the feelings within him, he is easily vulnerable and defenseless, subject to any idea and it is difficult for him to reconsider his views. In this regard, extroverts are much easier. They are sociable, easy to navigate in any environment, society, able to predict and restructure their relationships. Everything comes to them surprisingly easily, but they don’t notice their troubles and simply pass them through their fingers.
I.P. Pavlov put the basic processes in the activity of the central nervous system as the basis of the classification he developed. He identified 4 types of higher nervous activity in terms of strength, balance, agitation and inhibition of nervous processes.
All of the above classifications did not take into account the fact of the functional ambiguity of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. As it turned out, the dominance of one hemisphere or another has a serious effect on mental activity and human behavior. It was proposed to distinguish two psychotypes: left hemisphere and right hemisphere, where a characteristic of the main properties of each type is the functional orientation of the dominant hemisphere of the brain. The problem is the scientifically based determination of the dominance of a hemisphere. A.P. Anuashvili proposes to identify the dominance of the right or left hemisphere of the brain by determining the difference in the amplitudes of the oscillatory processes in one hemisphere and the degree of coordination of these oscillatory processes with each other. To determine these parameters, direct measurements are required using sensors that measure the electromagnetic radiation of the brain. In addition to the fact that this technique requires the use of expensive specialized equipment inaccessible for widespread use, the electromagnetic characteristics of brain radiation are characterized by a high level of instability. They change easily and depend on many additional factors. Obviously, this significantly affects the objectivity of the research results and require the accumulation of a large amount of statistical material.
Synthesized photos.
We have proposed a method for indirectly determining the predominant hemisphere of the brain by comparing the surface area of the left and right sides of the face. The face surface is formed by its facial muscles and the stronger it is developed, the greater the surface area of the face. The development of facial muscles directly depends on the functional activity of the cortical complexes of neurons in the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Since the facial muscles of the left and right faces are innervated counter-laterally, i.e. by opposite hemispheres, the surface area of the right face depends on the activity of the left hemisphere, and the surface area of the left face accordingly depends on the activity of the right hemisphere. With stable dominance or higher activity, for example, of the right hemisphere, the facial muscles of the left half of the face will be developed much stronger than the facial muscles of the right half of the face, and therefore the surface area of the left half of the face will be larger than the surface area of the right half of the face. Note that the dominance of one hemisphere or a higher degree of excitation of its neurons, as a rule, causes a relative inhibition of nervous processes in the opposite hemisphere. This further enhances the above effect.
To identify the dominant hemisphere, the surface areas of the synthesized photographs of the left and right faces were compared. A synthesized photograph is a photograph composed of one half of the face and its mirror image. The face in the photograph is divided along the axial anatomical line into two halves, and two synthesized photographs are compiled from each half. The left half of the face and its mirror image are taken and the left face is combined. In the same way, a combined photo of the right person is taken. This was done using a computer program. Next, the surface areas of the left and right faces of the synthesized photographs were measured. The same scale of photographs and their frontal images allow for comparative mathematical processing. The area of the desired half of the face, on the one hand, was limited by the central axial anatomical line, and on the other, by the external contours of the face.
. To determine the dominant hemisphere and the degree of its dominance, the concept of the face asymmetry coefficient was introduced, which was determined by the ratio of the surface areas of the left and right faces. If the ratio of the area of the left face to the area of the right is more than one, that is, the area of the left face is larger than the right, then this means that the right hemisphere is more active than the left. If this ratio is less than unity, then the left is the more active hemisphere. If this coefficient is equal to one, then the face is absolutely symmetrical and both hemispheres have the same activity. Thus, we can easily identify which hemisphere of the subject is active and determine its individual asymmetry coefficient. Studies were conducted among students of NGMA.
The results were somewhat unexpected. It seemed to us that, in quantitative terms, the number of right-hemispheric and left-hemispheric types should be approximately the same. However, as a percentage, the number of right-hemispheric people was 87.7%, the number of left-hemispheric people was 12.3%. The number of symmetrically functioning hemispheres is zero. A hemisphere is always a little more active than the opposite. The average asymmetry coefficient in the group with active left hemisphere was 0.944, and in the group with active right hemisphere 1.087. Additional studies were conducted among various age and social groups. The results were identical. We are all very emotional and, as a rule, first do, and then think, do things, and then repent.
Functional typology.
The left hemisphere processes information, sequentially coding and comparing its details, i.e., it goes from analysis to synthesis, where conclusions are made after careful data processing. Only after this the left hemisphere defines the goals and outlines the ways of their implementation. This approach guarantees a high level of success and effectiveness. Analyzing the situation happening here and now, the left hemisphere is betting on the future. Such a person, in the process of his present activity, predicts the expected future and sees himself in this situation as an actively acting person. He shows exceptional ingenuity and cold judgment in difficult situations. This eliminates the adoption of erroneous decisions and avoids undesirable consequences. Among these people we see scientists, engineers, and leaders. Taking into account all the circumstances and features of the functioning of the left hemisphere, the ways of its perception of the surrounding reality and the expression of its psychic essence, a person whose left hemisphere dominates is defined as an intellectual logical type.
The right hemisphere plays a leading role in the emotional sphere of human mental activity. Given the fact that the left hemisphere, in addition to everything else, takes on the entire spectrum of positive emotions, then naturally, we find ourselves not only emotional, but emotional negatively. The right hemisphere provides a holistic and imaginative perception of the world, but this perception always has a negative connotation. The bad is always remembered better than the good; it has the peculiarity of accumulating. , , , . . . . , , . , , , , . , , , , . . , , , , , , , , . . , . .
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Underlying irritation keeps us in a state, albeit mild, but constant depression. Any, even insignificant, unfavorable situation can plunge us into a real depression. Uncertainty, anxious and painful state, suppressed instinct of self-preservation, unbearable mental pain, sense of own worthlessness. This scary list goes on and on. It is only necessary to say that the consequences of this state do not bode well. They are the cause of a number of serious illnesses. This is, first of all, a stomach ulcer, bronchial asthma, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular = vascular diseases. In severe forms of depression, nervous disorders and suicidal syndrome occur, which often ends in tragedy. For all these indicators, we are almost leaders. This is our national identity. In general, all this reduces life expectancy to 10 - 15 years, depending on the degree of asymmetry of the hemispheres. How to fix this situation?
Psychological correction.
Studies of various types of people pose psychologists with the problem of eliminating the negative characteristics of the person, changing it in a positive direction. The task is to create a harmonious, highly spiritual, creative personality, helping her to reveal her positive qualities, to help strengthen physical health. Now that the reasons for our many misfortunes are understood, we will consider methods of dealing with evil rock, which does not allow us to live peacefully and happily.
Manifestations of the functional state of the cerebral hemisphere on a person’s face allow one to obtain, by visual processing the synthesized photos of the left and right faces, correction of the psychological state of a person. Examining synthesized photographs composed of the left and right halves of the face, the subject sees two different people. A split personality occurs , which the brain seeks to eliminate, eliminating the asymmetry between the left and right halves of the face. Synthesized photographs show the brain a naked reality, the result of its unsuccessful activity and encourage it to correct the situation. The brain has a tremendous capacity for self-healing and self-improvement. When, finally, the goals are defined, the consciousness begins to self-correct.
Visualization or viewing of synthesized photos should be carried out before bedtime, in a relaxed atmosphere. View photos should be taken alternately, for several minutes each. Further, the work on correcting functional imbalances in the brain goes on a subconscious level. The course of this psychotherapy is 7 to 10 days and is repeated after 1 month. Enough 2 - 3 courses. As a result of such psychotherapy, human behavior changes, geometric proportions and emotional expression of the face change in a positive direction. Immunity and self-esteem increase, diseases go away, pressure normalizes.
. The next method is to activate the left hemisphere. Its activity, as we said above, will automatically inhibit the activity of the right hemisphere and reduce the emotional background of a person’s mental state. To do this, give the left hemisphere a job. Download it with a solution to a simple logical task. For example, let you always have several coins of different denominations in your pocket. You touch the value of each coin and determine the total amount of your monetary condition. The task may have several variations, but the result will be one. You will find peace of mind, and along with peace of mind, confidence in yourself and your strengths.
Melikov PS (1980), Butchers IG (1964 = 2008)