odd left vs right intelegence effect. Seeking some advice.

G'Day,

I apologise if I am posting this in the wrong area but I could not find a forum for "unknown / wtf" and I was hoping someone here might be able to direct me a little.

In the last few months something odd has happened. I have become (a lot) smarter to information on the left side of my vision and remain at normal cognitive levels if the information is central or towards the right side of my vision. The effect seems only to apply to my mathematical studies. Also my left hand now seems to be dominant (I was previously right handed).

The good change:
I have studied a lot of maths over the last 10 years (as part of a CompSci Phd) and new that I was near the limits of my educatability with certain concepts. I have in the last month digested, used and innovated in areas of maths that previously I struggled with for years. What's strange is that I am digesting entire math texts in a couple of days (even hours) and thinking "that was trivial". Also I am solving problems and doing analysis that was previously very taxing going "piss easy". But this only works when using the left monitor (3 monitor computer) or positioning books to my left (about 30 deg). I put the same book or work on my right hand side and I'm back to finding the work extremely difficult.

The bad change:
I seem to be substituting words while writing (and sometimes speaking) without realising it. I look back at the last sentence I write and am constantly going "that's not what I wrote"
In the last few sentences my (now necessary) revision I found I had written "but" instead of "put" , "or" instead of "of", "realing" "realising", "peeking" instead of "speaking". This is highly unusual for me. I am a terrible speller, but have never written the wrong words before (now it's almost ever sentence). Also I had a frend sugest a test and I found this oddity, if the right side of my vision is blocked walking becomes nausiating (very odd for me).

I am 30yrs old, "considered" one of the smarter people at my uni (though maybe that is also a reflection on the uni), have no history of mental disorder, though I did have to "rebuild" after some head trauma during a motor vehicle accident about 5 years ago. At the moment I am not sleeping well wich may well be a factor.

Any advice on what's going on would be very much appreciated. I am more curious than worried -so don't come up with reasons for me to worry Have not seen a doctor about this.. yet

Cheers,

-dm

Hi,

I don't think that even a neurologist could answer your questions and be entirely accurate. The brain is such a dynamic and unique organ (unique to each person, I mean). It doesn't surprise me that you've developed a more 'mathematical' way of thinking dfue to the course that you've been on, firstly. The brain is always changing, and if one part is used more than another part, that part will 'grow' and become more complex; while the other part will 'shrink' and the neural connections there will become less complex. This way that the brain grows for more repetitive/used actions has been shown in even old-age people. So, the more maths you do, the more 'mathematical' you become.

In your case, I'm guessing that the accident disrupted certain pathways in your brain (maybe permanently), and this has exacerbated the symptoms that you're having. The fact that your now struggling in other areas of your life could very well be due to the fact that your new 'mathematical' brain isn't the best for handling the more simple/basic tasks in life; and you are only noticing this now because you have more time on your plate and can analyse your life on the whole.

In lieu of all of this, give it time, and i'm sure that things will normalise for you.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin.

It was a long post and I apreciate you taking the time to read it.
The effect has been recent (2 months). I figured things will normalise after a while.

What I am very curious about is should I "encourage it". That is, should I keep my math work to left side of my vision (gives a huge boost, maybe 10+ iq points). At the moment I am using this to full advantage, I spend 4+ hours a day on mathamatical work and keep it all to the left.

Should I countinue on this route or am I encouraging (exersising in) something bad?

regards,

-dm

Hi,

I think that you should try to 're' work the other part of your brain. You should keep up the math work - of course - but maybe start reading a newspaper or doing a crossword to get some words into your head I think that reading would especially be best. It's ironic here, but you're going to have to use your mathematical/logical brain to make it (your mathematical/logical brain) less prominant!; and improve the other areas of your brain.

Kevin

Hi,

I realize this is a late response, but I just joined the forum.

My best estimation is that you have suddenly become more right-brain dominant or have acquired some disjunction between hemispheres. This would explain the change in handedness, the increased mathematical aptitude, and the need to place the mathematics toward the left side of your body. The right hemisphere receives the image from the left eye and controls the left side of the body. In my opinion this would also explain the misspelled words since you are writing words that *appear* similar to the words you are intending to write, in the same way that people can easily read words with jumbled letters as long as they appear similar.

Personally, although I'm right-brained as it is, I would love to experience what you are experiencing. However, I would suggest that you see a neurologist to make sure that this is not the result of an injury.

--Peter