Hemispheric Asymmetry: What's Right and What's Left (Perspectives in Cognitive Neuroscience) [Hardcover]

Joseph B. Hellige (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1993 | Series: Perspectives in Cognitive Neuroscience (Book 1)

Is "right-brain" thought essentially creative, and "left-brain" strictly logical? Joseph B. Hellige argues that this view is far too simplistic. Surveying extensive data in the field of cognitive science, he disentangles scientific facts from popular assumptions about the brain's two hemispheres.

In Hemispheric Asymmetry, Hellige explains that the "right brain" and "left brain" are actually components of a much larger cognitive system encompassing cortical and subcortical structures, all of which interact to produce unity of thought and action. He further explores questions of whether hemispheric asymmetry is unique to humans, and how it might have evolved. This book is a valuable overview of hemispheric asymmetry and its evolutionary precedents.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is an excellent book on a complex topic, and I can think of no one better qualified than Hellige to cover as thoroughly and objectively as he has the many aspects of hemispheric asymmetry. All the important issues are dealt with, clearly exposed, and soundly analyzed...The book certainly provides an exhaustive and timely review of research in cerebral lateralization.
--Justine Sergent, McGill University

This hook represents an excellent treatment and review of data and theories concerning the behavioral and anatomic asymmetries associated with the left and right cerebral hemispheres in both humans and nonhumans. It is especially timely given the dramatic increase in the scope of laterality issues that has occurred over the last decade the hook is seamless, in terms of both the breadth of the literature surveyed and his assessment of critical issues.
--Stephen Christman, University of Toledo --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

This is an excellent book on a complex topic, and I can think of no one better qualified than Hellige to cover as thoroughly and objectively as he has the many aspects of hemispheric asymmetry. All the important issues are dealt with, clearly exposed, and soundly analyzed...The book certainly provides an exhaustive and timely review of research in cerebral lateralization. (Justine Sergent, McGill University )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 412 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press; 2nd prt. edition (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674387309
• ISBN-13: 978-0674387300
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,801,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great and timely edition., March 14, 2002

By 

Carlos Camara "marrorris2" (Monterrey, Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hemispheric Asymmetry: What's Right and What's Left (Perspectives in Cognitive Neuroscience) (Paperback)

This book originally apeared in the prespectives in cognitive neuroscience series in 1993, and is the best introduction and review into the subject of hemispheric asymmetry. My earlier concerns were that it was a bit dated, but it is a cornerstone in the field nevertheless.
Hellige points out that every model of hemispheric asymmetry will have to deal with five main points: The cognitive differences between individuals, general computation diferences between hemispheres, the view of the brain as an integrated unit, the development and evolution of hemispheric asymmetry and the fact that there is asymmetry in other species as well.
The book presents extensive data and studies that illuminate aspects of all of these points, and much more. Speculation is reserved for evolutionary discussions, but the author makes sure to present only hard evidence, and to warn the reader when there is controversy. It is not very technical, and for that it is a better exposition of such a complex subject.
Now the best parts of the book are when the author sets out to undermine (still current) popular beliefs about hemispheric asymmetry. There is no simple way to say that there are right or left brained people. This is a gross simplifiation of the facts. For example, Hellige notes that since every task uses multicomponent processing and modules, and since it regullarily activate distribuited locations of both hemisphers, there is no clear division within tasks of hemisphers (perhaps with the exeption of language). Sure, there is metacontrol, but that is another interesting subject. There is also no single dichtonomy between modes of processing of diferent hemisphers. Sayng that left is analytic and linguistic and right visuospatial is another gross simplification. Computation styles vary between tasks themselves. Finally, it is also not the case that there only exists hemispheric asymmetry in humans because of language and tool use. There is evidence for it in rats, birds, old world monkeys, among other species.
This is a great book from a great series, very informative, direct, uncontroversial, as well as a good read. Anyone interested in neurosciences at all should enjoy it. IT is also conforting to see hard science taking the spotlight and not cheap self help psychology. Maybe it is my left brain speaking.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding review of the research on brain asymmetry, May 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hemispheric Asymmetry: What's Right and What's Left (Perspectives in Cognitive Neuroscience) (Hardcover)

Hellige does a superb job of reviewing the field of hemispheric asymmetry. This book is well written and has much to offer to the serious researcher or just the laymen interested in the brain.

I am looking forward to a new edition, that will include the more recent research on the topic.