Cerebral Lateralization and Function Essay Example

2009). Functional brain imaging techniques can record brain functions during activates (Pinel, 2009). During a subjects activity the positron emission (PET) or functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) can measure brain activities (Pinel, 2009).

SPECT studies show very nicely what happens in various parts of the brain when you try to activate them” (Amen, 2000, p. 14, para. 3). In language tests the brain imaging methods have shown the left-hemispheres is more active (Pinel, 2009). Another cerebral lateralization method uses lesion studies. Two “large-scale lesion studies clarified the relation between the cerebral lateralization of speech and handedness” (Pinel, 2009, p. 403). The results suggest that the left hemisphere dominance for language abilities for most dextral and the majority of sinestral subjects involved in the studies (Pinel, 2009).

Cerebral lateralization and functionality studies do not show compeate function differences in the right and left hemispheres (Pinel, 2009). However, many studies show some functional differences where one hemisphere may be slightly more dominate (Pinel, 2009). Language abilities have shown slightly stronger relation in left hemisphere activities in conducted studies (Pinel, 2009). Cerebral lateralization research shows how different methods of research help gain a better understanding of the different functions of the brain.