The tendency for one cerebral hemisphere to be more active or specialized for certain cognitive functions than the other.
From Greek 'hemisphairion' (half a sphere) + Latin 'dominans' (ruling). One half of the brain taking the lead.
Hemispheric dominance means each brain half has specialties — the left often leads language, the right often leads spatial tasks. But they ALWAYS work together!
Brain lateralization research (1960s–1980s) falsely linked female verbal skills to weaker hemispheric dominance, implying inferior neural organization. Jerre Levy's work was misappropriated to argue women's brains were less specialized.
Use hemispheric dominance technically without gendered interpretation. Recognize that hemispheric asymmetry exists in all humans; cognitive differences do not map to dominance patterns.
Doreen Kimura and others corrected lateralization mythology, demonstrating that sex differences in brain organization are minimal and do not predict cognitive ability.
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