The theory states that people are either right-brained or left-brained, this means that one side of the brain is more dominant over the other. People tend to classify creative or artistic individuals as right-brained, and analytical and number-oriented individuals as left-brained.
This theory came from the fact that the two hemispheres of the brain function very differently.
The left side of the brain is usually associated with linear thinking, logic, and math, and it is usually better for reading, writing, and calculating. On the other hand, the right side is associated with imagination, visualization, and intuition.
However, after a 2-year study including over 1,000 people, neuroscientists weren’t able to find evidence of one hemisphere dominating the other.
The two sides of the brain function differently but they do work together and complement each other. For example, the left side of the brain is responsible for reading, but understanding tone and rhythm comes from the right-side.
This is why I refuse to accept the idea that some people are either left-brained or right-brained. No science supports it and personality traits and learning styles vary from person to person no matter their profession, skill set, or industry category.
The best graphic designers are experts in color and layout as well as in measurements and aspect ratios. The best people in analytics are great with datasets and even better at visualizing them and telling stories with them. No matter the profession, a unique combination of both cognitive realms will allow a person to see patterns and connect dots in a way that they weren’t able to before.
If you are a “creative” person and numbers are your enemy, remember to keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Adding data to the creative mix will always make the work stronger. And if you are a “numbers” person and constantly claim you are not creative, I invite you to grab a notepad and start doodling or writing about something that interests you, even numbers, you might end up surprising yourself.