Can anyone become detail oriented or is it an ingrained trait? Popular science and psychology would have us believe the latter. Despite evidence to the contrary, the notion persists that humans are either “left-brained” creative or “right-brained” analytical. We would expect that the latter would be more sensitive to picking up details. Untrue. The theory—like many that characterize person- ality—is an oversimplification of neural activity: While some functions are localized in a particular hemisphere, studies show activity on both sides This story is from Kinfolk Issue Twenty-Four Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 43 Signal Boost How status anxiety drives culture. Arts & Culture Issue 38 Memes of Communication A conversation about digital folklore. Arts & Culture Issue 36 Designated Drudgery How to take a load off. Arts & Culture Issue 36 Known Unknowns How to make no news good news. Arts & Culture Issue 30 Knowing Me, Knowing You Think twice before seeking out your doppelgänger. Arts & Culture Issue 29 Mime Culture On lip-syncing and the allure of mouthing along.
