The brain has two hemispheres that are connected through the corpus callosum. The two hemispheres have unique qualities and neurological balance between both are important for normal brain function. However, the brain doesn’t grow in a balanced way as evidenced by the first few years of life, where most of the growth is focused on the right brain (4).
The function of the right brain is to develop the big picture view of the world. The right hemisphere is important for developing motor control of axial and appendicular muscles. This allows for the baby to turn their head, reach with their arms and eventually learn how to walk.
The right side of the brain is also important for emotional intelligence, empathy, reading body language, sensory control, attention and behaviour. The right hemisphere controls the immune system by inhibiting it and most automatic life supporting functions like digestion and the heart’s pacemaker (2).
Age 2
Around age two of life, brain growth switches to the left brain as development becomes more focused on organizing the small details or small picture thinking. Once infants learn how to walk, development switches to the left hemisphere of the brain as they learn how to talk (9). The left hemisphere of the brain is the center for reading, writing, speaking, fine motor control, linear and logistical thinking, pattern recognition, curiosity and routine. It also activates the immune system by stimulating lymphoid tissue and antibody formation and regulates heart rhythm (2).
Motor Milestones
Milestones are important in brain development because the brain has a sensitive timing mechanism which coordinates when certain things are supposed to happen. When timing gets off, this can affect the neurodevelopment because the brain needs specific stimuli from the environment to activate certain parts of the brain at certain times (4).
For example, a child should crawl before they walk. Many parents hold this as a badge of honor, that their child developed quickly and skipped crawling and went straight to walking. This is a sign that there is an error in development as one of the major milestones was missed. This can skew the normal sequence of milestones and affect future brain and neurological development.
What happens if milestones are missed?
If milestones are missed and environmental stimuli are not present to activate the neural pathways, then this can lead to deficiencies in brain function. This often happens during critical times in right brain development, which if left uncorrected, can lead to problems in motor control and behaviour.
One of the most common signs of someone demonstrating a right brain delay is low tone and poor proprioception (motor control/balance). These individuals lack spatial orientation and may seem clumsy. The frontal lobe of the right brain is also responsible for posture, empathy and behaviour. These children often have difficulty making friends as they struggle with empathy or they say ‘the wrong things.’ During COVID mask mandates, babies struggled to connect with their parents and other adults who covered their faces. Babies need to see faces to develop empathy and emotional intelligence.
Other signs or symptoms of a right brain delay may include; poor attention span, compulsivity, picky eating habits, allergies, asthma, immature digestion and rapid heart beat. People with a right brain deficiency are often labeled as having ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism, Tourette’s, obsessive compulsive disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, nonverbal learning disorder, developmental coordination disorder etc. (2,4).
Signs of a left-brain deficiency are often subtler and may not be picked up until in school. Poor language skills are a hallmark of a left-brain delay because the left hemisphere is usually responsible for speech and word processing. These children may be slow to start talking or may seem quiet, shy and withdrawn. The small picture thinking is affected which can lead to difficulties in math, music and fine motor control. This may show up as difficulties with basic math, an inability to carry a tune or poor hand writing. The immunological ramifications of a left-brain delay may manifest as chronic ear infections and colds. Left brain deficiencies are often diagnosed as having dyslexia, sensory processing disorders, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, learning disability, language disorder, reading disorder, acalculia and selective mutism (2,4).
Both right and left-brain delays are evidence of an imbalance in brain function caused by errors in neurosensory integration during critical periods of brain development. Brain delays do not only lead to the aforementioned diagnoses, but can also lead to exceptional abilities. Children with right brain delays may have overdevelopment in the left hemisphere and may be exceptional in math, reading, writing and some are labeled as savants (4). No matter what the state, just slapping a label on these kids does nothing to improve their state and can follow them for their entire lives. By identifying which side of the brain is behind you can implement strategies to strengthen the brain and improve overall brain balance.
Dr. Thom
References:
- 1) Kulkarni V, Chandy M, Babu K. Quantitative study of muscle spindles in suboccipital muscles of human foetuses. Neurology India 2001; 49(4): 355-9.
- 2) Hall, M. ICPA Module: Developmental Neurobiology. 2017 Apr 8-9; Toronto, ON.
- 3) Palmer DD. Textbook of the Science, Art and Philosophy of Chiropractic. Portland: Portland Printing House Company; 1910.
- 4) Melillo R. Disconnected Kids. New York: Penguin Group; 2009.