Is Logic Your Strong-point or Creativity? Check for Yourself

A common belief was that people with strong logic, methodical and analytical skills use their left side of the brain, while creative and artistic people use their right side more. There weren’t any scientific evidence for these claims, at least not until recently.

A study conducted at the University of Utah that included the analysis of over a thousand brains found that people don’t necessarily use only one side of the brain.

During the tests, the respondents as well as the scientists were using both sides of the brain equally. A paper reporting on this study was published in PLOS ONE in August 2013, and Dr. Jeff Anderson (director of the fMRI Neurosurgical Mapping Service at the University of Utah) explained that for certain functions, there really is a tendency to use one side of the brain more than the other. For instance, for most people who use their right hand, their speech is produced in the left side of the brain, but they still use both sides normally and equal amounts of neurons are produced.

However, there is something about the belief that left-brain dominant people are more analytical and objective, while right-brain dominant ones are more subjective and intuitive. But this is more of a psychological standpoint than strictly scientific and neurological. Moreover, as science writer for Discover magazine explains, “No matter how lateralized the brain can get, though, the two sides still work together”. He further explains that the left brain hemisphere is in charge of picking up sounds that constitute words and then coming up with the syntax of the phrase. On the other hand, the right hemisphere is more sensitive to emotional characteristics of language, like rhythm, intonation, and stress.

According to the Left-Brain, Right-Brain Dominance Theory, the left hemisphere performs best at logic and analytical thinking (use of language, critical thinking, numbers, and logic), while the right brain is good at creative tasks (such as music, expressing and reading emotions, intuition, and recognizing faces).

As you have noticed, you probably have characteristics from both groups. For instance, being musical doesn’t exclude being good at languages or mathematics. However, you may be more inclined to one side than the other, so let’s check if logic is your strong point or if it’s creativity.

For the next questions you will have two choices and based on your answers you will find out which type of person (logical or creative) you are. Each answer will either be in favor of logic or creative. Count how many answers are “logical” and how many “creative” and see which side you’re leaning to.

1. Which school subject did you like more – English or Mathematics?

• If you chose English, give yourself a “C” (for creative), and if you chose Mathematics give yourself an “L” (for logical)

2. Are you a male or a female?

• As girls are usually more creative, and boys a little more analytic (not always), give yourself a “C” if you are a girl and an “L” if you are a boy

3. Are you better with writing or numbers?

• If you are better with numbers, give yourself an “L”, and if you’re better with writing, a “C”

4. Do you prefer writing a discussion or doing multiple-choice assignments?

• Writing a discussion requires more creativity, so if you chose this give yourself a “C”. On the other hand, multiple-choice is more analytical, so if you chose that, give yourself an “L”

5. When you like someone, do you first think well and consider all the options, the good and the bad, or you follow your heart and hope for the best?

• If you chose the first one, you deserve an “L”, and for the second one you get a “C”

6. What do you like more – watching documentaries or fiction?

• Documentaries bring you one “L” while fiction gets you a “C”

Now check how many C’s and L’s you have and see what type of personality predominates. The domination can be slight and subtle or very prominent – count your answers and you’ll see!