It seems that when reading about
the human brain one often finds experts referring to the right
and the left hemispheres. These two sides apparently serve two
entirely different purposes though they are strongly connected
(corpus callosum) . The differentiation between the two
hemispheres is interesting in connection with this thesis because
the right part is strongly associated with artistic expression.
While for most people the
two hemispheres work so well together that the split is
unnoticeable, there are certain people who - after an operation
in order to help a condition of epilepsy - have no connection
between the two halves. Tests with these people have shown that
the split exists and what the two halves are responsible for.
Thus we can now say that the right side of the brain is largely
in control of the left hand , eye, and the left part of the body
in general, as well as 3D-construction, and the sense for pattern
and composition. It is almost entirely non-verbal, synthetic,
musical and holistic. The importance of this discovery is obvious
and has been developed in connection to drawing by Betty Edwards
in her book "Drawing with the right side of the brain".
Portrait of Igor Strawinsky by Pablo Picasso - Edwards
suggests to draw this up-side-down in order to employ the
right hemisphere, because we cannot recognise the image
as easily and thus are able to actually see the lines,
not what they represent.
Edwards describes that
students whose drawing dramatically improved 'seemed
unable to find the words to describe specifically what
they were doing differently'.
She herself found that she could
only either draw or talk, never the two together.
Edwards' apparently successful method of teaching drawing
is to get the students to use their right hemisphere. To
achieve this she employs tricks that knock out the more
dominant left hemisphere, including :
negative spaces
up-side-down viewing
measuring
mirror reverse viewing
etc.
In other words ,ways to see and
draw a line with a certain shape, not (e.g.) a nose, and how we
assume a nose looks. Those who have managed to use the right side
of the brain understand why some people describe drawing as easy.
The left hemisphere is incapable of drawing, because the lines it
sees and creates are merely used to fit the verbal idea, not an
abstract line.
measuring the proportions of the human scull
Today even some
professional artists are unable to draw realistically
because they rely on the left side of the brain to take
on this task. At the same time these people show a great
understanding and sense of composition and colour while
working on abstract images.
The reason for this is clear. When
working on abstract images the left hemisphere automatically
passes the task onto the right side.
Characteristic of the work of the
right hemisphere is the lack of sense of time and that one can
easily spend hours in intense concentration. Further the right
hemisphere shows a remarkable tolerance for opposites and
paradoxes. In addition one experiences a strong fear of losing
the results of this work, because while using the right
hemisphere, access to words is severely limited. Only when this
process is finished and the left hemisphere is used again will
one be able to express these results verbally. The whole work
method seems comparable to dreaming. And maybe dreaming is the
very way the right hemisphere expresses itself. Nobody can really
talk about dreams, yet they effect our emotion greatly.
Edwards comparing Students work: left side - asked to
draw a person, right side - asked to copy the Strawinsky
drawing : ( 1,2) right-side up (3,4) upside-down
Lyall Watson quotes R.
Ornstein saying that if you are a writer or a scientist
damage to your left hemisphere could prove disastrous
while if you are a musician or visual artist damage to
your right hemisphere will probably end your career.
Interestingly the four creative activities - writing,
scientific research, painting, music - are divided into
two separate groups and attributed to the two
hemispheres: those using language to the left.
If we assume this theory to be
true, then creativity cannot be allocated to either
hemisphere. However, I would argue that if you are a
scientist, damage to either hemisphere will probably end
your career because the right hemisphere is used to think
creatively and the left is required to express any
results linguistically. Years of observation and explicit
research have shown that the centre of speech lies in the
left hemisphere. However, from my own experience I would
suggest that writing - as opposed to reading - is not
entirely controlled by the left hemisphere. While writing
creatively many of the characteristics of the working of
the right hemisphere apply, i.e. no sense of time,
ability to concentrate strongly, tolerance of opposites,
tolerance of frustration etc. . This observation has been
confirmed by many artists in discussion and in my
questionnaire.
This leads me to believe that
creativity is independent of the hemispheres and links into
whichever mode ( visual, musical, linguistically etc. ) we are
using.
It is unfortunate that the
information on the operation of the two hemispheres is so meagre
but in the book " Essentials of Neurology " by Lord
Walton, a small paragraph deals with the frontal lobe. According
to Freeman and Watts who have undertaken tests with
lobotomy-patients ( lobotomy is the removal of the frontal lobe )
, the frontal lobe is responsible for:
imagination
foresight
perception of self /
intellect
and for storing and
maintaining certain behavioural patterns.
In 1848, Phinea Gage had a crowbar
driven through his forehead (thus damaging the frontal lobe). The
description of his subsequent condition has been recognised as
the 'frontal lobe syndrome' :
His (Ph. Gage)
behaviour was ' fitful, irreverent, indulging at times in
great profanity. . . manifesting itself in little
deference for his fellows, impatient of restraint or
advice, when it conflicts with his desires, at times
perniciously obstinate, yet capricious and vacillatory'.
This means that the certain
behavioural patterns the frontal lobe is responsible for include
:
tact
sensibility
self-control
spontaneity /
impulsiveness
patience
tolerance
It would thus appear that some
important aspects of the creative thought process can be located
in the same area as behavioural patterns. The questions arising
as a direct result of this finding are:
schematic layout of the two hemispheres and the frontal
lobe, and how they might interact
Are the above mentioned
behavioural patterns responsible for madness or
would they just suggest eccentricity ?
Does a highly creative person
have a larger or better developed frontal lobe ?
In what way are the creative
and the behavioural aspects of the frontal lobe
connected ,i.e. does the intense use of one
reduce or increase the other, or are imagination
and tolerance tied together ?
I would suggest that a series of
additional research be undertaken
to test specifically
patients with frontal lobe injury on behavioural patterns
and creativity;
to test frontal lobe
activities with psychotic patients
to test frontal lobe
activity during the creative process
I.e. to find out, whether creativity can be placed
in the frontal lobe and what behavioural patterns can be located in the same
area.
