On the eve of the New Year, it's traditional to review the events and accomplishments of the year past, then more or less close the book on it. We begin to contemplate a new chapter: new hopes, new dreams, new plans, new schemes; looking forward to new events, new accomplishments.

An article I read recently featured the observation that, shown a handful of similar objects and asked to guess how many, when we are shown four or less our guesses are reliably quick and correct. But when the number exceeds four our estimates come slower, and become less and less reliable as the actual number of objects increases.

Not too surprising. But then the article goes on to say that when the guessers were wired up to detect their brain activity, there was a marked shift from left brain to right brain when the number of objects went above three or four. This was taken to be evidence that the left brain deals with what is familiar enough to be obvious and certain, while the right brain is called upon to deal with what is less familiar and more uncertain.

The article didn't go beyond that, but my takeaway was that the left brain deals with the past, while the right brain deals with the present and future. Because the content of the past is fixed. The content of the present and the future, not so much. The past informs the present, and predicts the future.

When it comes to handling known data, the left brain takes charge, recalling it. Even computing with it, working out clear-cut relationships with relative ease. But when it comes to new experiences, involving things not entirely familiar, the baton is passed and it is the right brain that runs with it.

Can this be right? I started compiling examples. Take a look if you will. I'd like to know if these examples make sense to you (and which ones don't). I'd especially like to know if you come up with additional compelling examples of your own.

Left Brain versus Right Brain
       Memory      Speculation
     Past      Future
Data      Lore
Space     Time
              Done      Planned     
      Accomplished     Desired                
            Dark (in the sense of old)     Light (in the sense of new)     
           Light (known)     Dark (unknown)
    Passive     Active
          Actual     Possible
   Captive     Free   
        Eagle     Raven

Okay, that's all I've got for now.

I thought about explaining some of them that weren't obvious fits when I first thought of them.
I could take that on if you think I should.

So, what do you think? Is this a timely topic for the beginning of a New Year?