Brain Dominance

Right brain, left brain or both? Which are you?

I always knew I was right brained. But after taking Dr. Loren D. Crane Cognitive Style Quiz I've discovered I'm strong right brain.

I thought it might be fun to share Dr. Crane's quiz with you. If you don't know which dominate side of your brain you use, take the test and find out. It might help you to discover the best way you learn/make decisions/edit.

When you've taken the test don't forget to leave a comment and share your results.

Exercise – Cognitive-Style Quiz – Brain Dominance:

Choose the one sentence that is more true. Do not leave any blanks.


1. A It's fun to take risks.
    B I have fun without taking risks.


2. A I look for new ways to do old jobs.
    B When one way works well, I don't change it.


3. A I begin many jobs that I never finish.
    B I finish a job before starting a new one.


4. A I'm not very imaginative in my work.
    B I use my imagination in everything I do.

5. A I can analyze what is going to happen next.
    B I can sense what is going to happen next.


6. A I try to find the one best way to solve a problem.
    B I try to find different answers to problems.


7. A My thinking is like pictures going through my head.
    B My thinking is like words going through my head.


8. A I agree with new ideas before other people do.
    B I question new ideas more than other people do.


9. A Other people don't understand how I organize things.
    B Other people think I organize well.


10. A I have good self-discipline.
      B I usually act on my feelings.


11. A I plan time for doing my work.
      B I don't think about the time when I work.


12. A With a hard decision, I choose what I know is right.
      B With a hard decision, I choose what I feel is right.


13. A I do easy things first and important things later.
      B I do the important things first and the easy things later.


14. A Sometimes in a new situation, I have too many ideas.
      B Sometimes in a new situation, I don't have any ideas.


15. A I have to have a lot of change and variety in my life.
      B I have to have an orderly and well-planned life.


16. A I know I'm right, because I have good reasons.
      B I know I'm right, even without good reasons.


17. A I spread my work evenly over the time I have.
      B I prefer to do my work at the last minute.


18. A I keep everything in a particular place.
      B Where I keep things depends on what I'm doing.


19. A I have to make my own plans.
      B I can follow anyone's plans.


20. A I am a very flexible and unpredictable person.
      B I am a consistent and stable person.


21. A With a new task, I want to find my own way of doing it.
      B With a new task, I want to be told the best way to it.


To Score: Give yourself one point for each time you answered "A" for questions: 1, 2, 3,7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21.

Give yourself one point for each time you answered "B" for questions: 4 ,5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18. Add all points.


0-4 strong left brain
5-8 moderate left brain
9-13 middle brain
14-16 moderate right brain
17-21 strong right brain


Preferences of the Two Sides of the Brain

Description of the Left-Hemisphere Functions


—Constantly monitors our sequential, ongoing behavior
—Responsible for awareness of time, sequence, details, and order
—Responsible for auditory receptive and verbal expressive strengths
—Specializes in words, logic, analytical thinking, reading, and writing
—Responsible for boundaries and knowing right from wrong
—Knows and respects rules and deadlines


Description of the Right-Hemisphere Functions


—Alerts us to novelty; tells us when someone is lying or making a joke
—Specializes in understanding the whole picture
—Specializes in music, art, visual-spatial and/or visual-motor activities
—Helps us form mental images when we read and/or converse
—Responsible for intuitive and emotional responses.
—Helps us to form and maintain relationships


From The Alert Scale of Cognitive Style, by Dr. Loren D. Crane, Western Michigan University, 1989. Reprinted with permission.


Until next time x