2.7 The Rational Left and the Holistic Right Hemispheres of the Human Brain

The number of scientific studies on the left and right brain specialization is immense, and the range of the fields of study of brain specialization‑related investigation is large. An impressive list of such findings illustrating the two modes of operation of the brain was provided by Nevitt.

The left brain is occidental, whereas the right brain is oriental. The logical brain recognizes objects and events sequentially and logically. Watching the news delivered by a newscaster without distracting visuals in the background is an occidental function of the left brain that controls the right visual field. However, watching a scene described by a newscaster off camera is an oriental activity of the right brain that controls the left visual field.

The left brain specializes in visual speech and recognizes all activities involving language, logic, and words, whereas the right hemisphere is predominantly musical and acoustic and recognizes more readily melodies and musical tunes. Because of this dichotomy of the brain's functions, speeches on television tend to be monotonous and boring, whereas musical concerts, even when filmed by one camera on a long shot, are interesting to listen to and easier to watch.

Charts, maps, numerical figures, tables, statistics, lists of names, numbered items, and mathematical computations are more readily recognized by the left hemisphere of the brain, found to be specialized in logical, mathematical, intellectual, sequential, and analytic functions.

Complex visual elements and multilevel action scenes placed on the viewer's left side of the screen are recognized by the holistic, simultaneous, intuitive or creative, and synthetic right hemisphere of the brain.

Constructors of television programs that consist primarily of scenes requiring a linear and detailed controlled approach such as instructional or educational programs, cooking shows, and language instruction, should consider placement of such activities on the right side of the screen to be recognized by the left side of the viewers' brain. However, those producing television programs consisting for the most part of scenes with artistic, symbolic, simultaneous, emotional, and intuitive content (such as experimental television programs, music videos, art shows, and religious programs) should consider placement of the main activities on the left side of the screen for better recognition by the right hemispheres of viewers' brains.

All quantitative activities encompassing the action of a television program such as the recognition of complex motor sequences and significant order, reading, writing, numbering, and analyzing should be placed on the right side of the screen to be more readily recognized by viewers' left hemispheres.

On the other hand, all qualitative activities that characterize the action in a television program such as recognition of complex figures, abstract patterns, or scenes requiring simultaneous comprehension, synthesis, and configurations, have a better chance of being recognized if placed on the viewers' left side of the screen.