lateralization

American  

[lat-er-uh-luh-zey-shuhn] / ˌlæt ər ə ləˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. functional specialization of the brain, with some skills, as language, occurring primarily in the left hemisphere and others, as the perception of visual and spatial relationships, occurring primarily in the right hemisphere.

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Usage

What is lateralization? Lateralization describes the concept that some brain functions are specialized to either the right or left side of the human brain. In neuroscience and psychology, lateralization states that functions of the brain are lateralized, or split, and that certain functions are conducted on either the left or right side of the brain. Functions related to complex ideas, speech, creativity, artistic talent, and expression are said to reside in the right side of the brain. Someone who shows a lot of skill with one or more of these creative functions might be described as right-brained. Functions related to calculation, rationalized thinking, analysis, logic, and quantitative reasoning are located in the left side of the brain. Someone who shows a lot of skill with one or more of these analytical functions might be described as left-brained. However, being skilled in one type of function or another doesn’t absolutely mean your brain is stronger on one side or another. There is research that both proves and disproves the concept of lateralization. You can be skilled in both creative and analytic functions, not having one or the other dominate. Example: In neurology, we learned that lateralization doesn’t mean that a person’s brain functions are universally stronger on one side of the brain than on the other.

Etymology

Origin of lateralization

First recorded in 1885–90; lateral + -ization

Example Sentences

In modern animals, lateralization is linked to advanced brain function.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

This suggests the animals may have favored one side of their jaws, a behavior known as lateralization.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

Summarizing the research, she writes, “Nonexistent sex differences in language lateralization, mediated by nonexistent sex differences in corpus callosum structure, are widely believed to explain nonexistent sex differences in language skills.”

From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2010