Play with Your Brain

Transcription

1 Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 5.1 Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 67.1 Drawspace Curriculum 5.2.A1-6 Pages and 1 Illustration Play with Your Brain Answer 50 fun questions to discover your brain s strengths and weaknesses The brain has two halves (or hemispheres): the right and left cerebral cortexes. For the sake of simplicity, HD (hemispheric dominance) refers to how the two hemispheres of the brain each affect thought processes differently and was originally based on studies of stroke victims. For years it was believed that the right side of the brain tended to be intuitive, emotional, visual, and creative while the left side of the brain was auditory, logical, mathematical, and literal. However, recent studies involving brain mapping have shown this left/right paradigm to be oversimplifi ed at best and perhaps totally inaccurate. Though there is some evidence that the earlier theories may be relevant, studies now show that either side of the brain may assume analytical functions or creative functions, especially when brain damage has occurred. Educators and psychologists frequently use HD references; however artists, unaware of their own hemispheric dominance are often unclear as to their practical applications. HD is still relevant because it s used to indicate the types of drawing skills in which you are strongest, and also your work habits and creative thought processes. The analytical functions of the brain (regardless of which hemisphere they reside in) facilitate drawing with grids and measurements from two-dimensional sources. The visual or conceptual functions of the brain tend to work more intuitively using cues from either two-or three-dimensional sources. One might assume that artists are all visually dominant. Surprisingly, that s not the case. Artists tend to fall across the entire HD spectrum with perhaps only a slight skewing of their numbers toward the visual/conceptual or what has long been referred to as rightbrained. Aside from intuitive indications, how do you know whether you are more logical/ analytical or visual/conceptual? Actually, there are tests to help you out. My favorite is based on an old multiple-choice survey developed by Paul Torrance during the 1960s, when much of what we know about this subject was being studied.

2 2 Drawspace Curriculum 5.2.A1 Since then, more detailed studies have added great complexity to the fi eld. To help you understand the variables involved, I ve developed a hemispheric dominance test for artists. Figure 1 The test scores vary between zero and fi fty based on your answers. A score of zero indicates no discernible brain at all. No, just kidding. A score of zero indicates equal hemispheric dominance (sometimes called whole-brained ), which is surprisingly uncommon. There is no such thing as a good or bad score; being visual/conceptual dominance or logical/analytical dominance is neither good nor bad, though the extremes do account for some very unique personalities and often, quite exceptional artists. Hemispheric Dominance Test Instructions: Indicate your choices on a sheet of paper numbered from 1 to 50. Answer each quickly and in order without giving them a lot of thought. 1. I prefer: A. Working on only one art project at a time. B. Starting a second project before the fi rst is done. C. Either approach. 2. I like to solve problems: A. By working hard on them. B. By experimenting. C. Using either or neither approach. 3. I am: A. Seldom inventive. B. Quite inventive. C. Occasionally inventive. 4. I prefer: A. Essay questions. B. Multiple-choice questions. C. Either is fi ne. 5. I remember: A. Names best. B. Faces best. C. Both equally well. 6. I like to use: A. The proper material for an art project. B. Whatever I have handy. C. A little of both.

3 Drawspace Curriculum 5.2.A I read poetry: A. Seldom. B. Frequently. C. Occasionally. 8. I prefer classes wherein I learn things: A. For use now. B. I can use later. C. For use either now or later. 9. I prefer classes taught: A. By lecturing experts. B. Allowing a hands-on approach. C. A little of both. 10. To relax, I would rather: A. Read. B. Watch TV. C. Neither or either. 11. I am: A. Not good at body language. B. An expert on body language. C. Sometimes good at body language. 12. I prefer classes: A. Involving one assignment at a time. B. With several projects up and running at once. C. Either is okay. 13. I am: A. Not good at telling jokes. B. A real stand-up comedian. C. Okay telling jokes part of the time. 14. I best express my feelings: A. In plain language. B. In poetry and songs. C. With either, or neither. 15. I prefer classes that are: A. Carefully planned from the beginning. B. Open to change as they progress. C. Either is okay. 16. I like to: A. Know just the facts. B. Guess and play hunches. C. A little of both. 17. I would rather: A. Talk and write. B. Draw and manipulate things. C. Do either or both. 18. I prefer to learn: A. Only the facts about something. B. Ponder the unknown factors. C. Either or both ways. 19. When I start painting: A. I have a detailed drawing. B. I have no drawing. C. Sometimes I have a drawing. 20. I respond best to people asking for help: A. When they present just the facts. B. When they appeal to my feelings. C. Either way is fi ne. 21. I solve problems best using: A. Logic. B. My gut feelings. C. Both approaches. 22. When I am away from home: A. I get lost easily. B. I have a good sense of direction. C. I get lost sometimes.

4 4 Drawspace Curriculum 5.2.A1 23. When I read, I like to: A. Analyze the content. B. Gather new ideas from the content. C. Sometimes do both. 24. I prefer a teacher who: A. Works with me individually. B. Explains things to the entire class. C. No preference, really. 25. I feel I am: A. Intellectual. B. Intuitive. C. About equal in this regard. 26. I prefer: A. Lots of details on a subject. B. A general overview of a subject. C. Either or both is fi ne. 27. When I look at a painting: A. I like to know the title and artist. B. I seldom notice the title or artist. C. I sometimes seek out the title and artist. 28. I remember best: A. Things I ve studied. B. Things I ve learned in general. C. I ve not noticed any difference here. 29. When I think I: A. Use words to form ideas. B. Use images to form ideas. C. Do either or both. 30. If I encounter a problem with a painting I: A. Find a book dealing with the problem. B. Seek the help of others. C. Do either one or both. 31. I prefer to see: A. A fi nished painting. B. A work in progress. C. Both are interesting. 32. I like: A. Crossword puzzles best. B. Jigsaw puzzles best. C. Either or neither. 33. I prefer to read: A. Realistic fi ction. B. Fantasy tales. C. Either or neither. 34. I prefer material: A. Outlined. B. Summarized. C. Either one is okay. 35. I would rather play with: A. A dog. B. A cat. C. Either or neither. 36. I prefer to read: A. Non-fi ction. B. Fiction. C. Either about equally. 37. In a counseling session, I would prefer: A. Individual counseling. B. Group counseling. C. Either one is okay. 38. I am: A. Seldom moody. B. Frequently moody. C. Sometimes moody.

5 Drawspace Curriculum 5.2.A I prefer: A. Written instructions. B. Oral instructions. C. Either or both. 40. I am: A. Seldom late for an appointment. B. Usually late for everything. C. Sometimes late. 41. I would rather draw from: A. A photo. B. An actual object. C. Either one. 42. I prefer to: A. Draw from a picture. B. Make up my own picture. C. Do either one. 43. I would rather: A. Improve something. B. Invent something. C. I like doing either one. 44. I study best: A. In a quiet environment. B. With music. C. Either is okay. 45. I prefer to: A. Plan realistically. B. Dream of possibilities. C. Do both from time to time. 46. I prefer a vacation: A. With a fi rm itinerary. B. That is totally unstructured. C. Either one is okay. 47. I am best in remembering: A. The title of a painting. B. The painting itself. C. Either or both. 48. I did best in: A. Algebra. B. Geometry. C. Both equally well. 49. I prefer to: A. Plan my day carefully. B. Just do whatever I have time for. C. Do a little of both. 50. When I started taking this test: A. I looked over the whole thing fi rst. B. I just started answering the questions at the beginning. C. I peeked just a little. Do NOT go back and change any answers. Self Scoring: Hemispheric Dominance Test Tally up the number of A responses, and then the number of B responses. (Ignore the C responses.) If the two numbers are equal, the score is zero (which means you are whole-brained, favoring neither side).

6 6 Drawspace Curriculum 5.2.A1 If the number of A responses is larger, subtract the number of B responses from it. (For example if you have 36 A responses and 14 B responses, your score is 22.) If the B responses are more numerous, subtract from them the number of A responses. Scoring Table A: Logical/analytical (if your A responses are more numerous) If the subtracted difference is: 35-50: extremely logical/analytical 21-34: very logical/analytical 11-20: moderately logical/analytical 0-10: slightly logical/analytical You are mathematically inclined, literary, systematic, factual, and ask, What is? Scoring Table B: Visual/conceptual (if your B responses are more numerous) If the subtracted difference is: 35-50: extremely visual/conceptual 21-34: very visual/conceptual 11-20: moderately visual/conceptual 0-10: slightly visual/conceptual You are visually inclined, intuitive, explorative, creative, and ask, What if?