Right-brain boom

01/01/1960 (Circa)View on timeline


Cerebral self-help bestsellers reproduced and exploited the right-brain boom that emerged during the 1960s in the context of counterculture movements [...].


As we have seen, the notion of a divided mind, embodied in a divided brain in conflict with itself, goes back to Wigan and others in the nineteenth century. After Broca, the left hemisphere came to be considered superior because it was seen as responsible for the intellectual, civilized activities predominant in white European males, while the right one was thought to dominate in women, criminals, Indians, blacks, madmen, and homosexuals (Harrington 1987).

Cerebral self-help bestsellers reproduced and exploited the right-brain boom that emerged during the 1960s in the context of counterculture movements, but they also made use of the split-brain research mentioned above, which could itself give room to Wigan (the neurophysiologist Joseph Bogen [1971, 1985] reprinted The Duality of Mind and described his own position as “neowiganism”). The self-help market is full of titles relating the right hemisphere to the most varied phenomena, from the classification of artists, musicians, politicians, and dictators according to their cerebral “orientation” to tantric sexuality, mediumistic capacities, and other paranormal activities supposedly enabled by the right brain (Capacchione 2001, Ehrenwald 1984, Spotts and Atkins 1999, Wells 1989). 

Since the late 1960s, several authors in the area of education have insisted on the countless advantages of a school that would focus on the right brain and have criticized traditional pedagogy for its emphasis on left-hemisphere capabilities (Edwards 1979, Gainer and Gainer 1977, Hunter 1976). Such proposals for a “hemispheric balance in the curriculum” that would avoid the didactic failures of left-brain educational programs hark back to nineteenth-century pedagogical crusades and revive many of the assumptions of Brown-Séquard in France and the Ambidextral Culture Society in the United Kingdom.

Vidal, Fernando and Ortega, Francisco. Being Brains: Making the Cerebral Subject (Forms of Living)....

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Published in 9/01/2019

Updated in 19/02/2021

All events in the topic Chap. 1: Genealogy of the Cerebral Subject:


17/06/2013Beyond the Brain, by David BrooksBeyond the Brain, by David Brooks
30/06/1963Self-Knowledge and Self-Identity, by Sidney ShoemakerSelf-Knowledge and Self-Identity, by Sidney Shoemaker
31/12/1981 (Circa)Reason, Truth, and History, by Hilary PutnamReason, Truth, and History, by Hilary Putnam
01/04/1981The Mind’s I, edited by Daniel C. Dennett and Douglas HofstadterThe Mind’s I, edited by Daniel C. Dennett and Douglas Hofstadter
01/01/1981 (Circa)Philosophical Explanations, by Robert NozickPhilosophical Explanations, by Robert Nozick
01/01/129 (Circa)01/01/200 (Circa)Galenic CorpusGalenic Corpus
06/05/2015The Embodied Brain, by Kiverstein and MillerThe Embodied Brain, by Kiverstein and Miller
01/05/1993Exploding the Gene Myth, by Ruth Rubbard and Elijah WaldExploding the Gene Myth, by Ruth Rubbard and Elijah Wald
01/01/2005 (Circa)The Ethical Brain, by GazzanigaThe Ethical Brain, by Gazzaniga
01/09/2007Can neuroscience be integrated into the DSM-V?, by Steven HymanCan neuroscience be integrated into the DSM-V?, by Steven Hyman
20/03/1989Quote by James D. WatsonQuote by James D. Watson
20/10/2004Completion of the Human Genome ProjectCompletion of the Human Genome Project
01/01/2003 (Circa)Neurochemical Selves, by Nikolas RoseNeurochemical Selves, by Nikolas Rose
20/02/2009Identity, Identification, and the Brain, by Emily MartinIdentity, Identification, and the Brain, by Emily Martin
21/09/2015Thomas Insel appointed head of the new life sciences unit of AlphabetThomas Insel appointed head of the new life sciences unit of Alphabet
01/01/1960 (Circa)31/12/1969 (Circa)Widespread of the definition of death according to brain-based criteria in clinical practiceWidespread of the definition of death according to brain-based criteria in clinical practice
16/10/1997Japan's Organ Transplantation LawJapan's Organ Transplantation Law
23/10/2000Brain Death and Transplantation in Japan, by Masahiro MoriokaBrain Death and Transplantation in Japan, by Masahiro Morioka
01/01/2002 (Circa)Twice Dead: Organ Transplants and the Reinvention of Death,  by Margaret LockTwice Dead: Organ Transplants and the Reinvention of Death, by Margaret Lock
06/06/1995The DNA Mystique, by Dorothy Nelkin and Susan LindeeThe DNA Mystique, by Dorothy Nelkin and Susan Lindee
19/06/2013The Problem with the Neuroscience Backlash, by Gary MarcusThe Problem with the Neuroscience Backlash, by Gary Marcus
18/06/2013David Brooks and the Anti-Neuroscience Backlash, by Paul WaldmanDavid Brooks and the Anti-Neuroscience Backlash, by Paul Waldman
03/01/1988Technologies of the Self, by Michel FoucaultTechnologies of the Self, by Michel Foucault
01/01/1993 (Circa)Le philosophe et son scalpel: le problème de l'identité personnelle, by Stéphane FerretLe philosophe et son scalpel: le problème de l'identité personnelle, by Stéphane Ferret
15/12/1983Beyond Structuralism and Hermeneutics, by FoucaultBeyond Structuralism and Hermeneutics, by Foucault
01/01/1988 (Circa)Real People: Personal Identity Without Thought Experiments, by Kathleen WilkesReal People: Personal Identity Without Thought Experiments, by Kathleen Wilkes
21/06/2003Is It Me or My Brain? Depression and Neuroscientific Facts, by Joseph DumitIs It Me or My Brain? Depression and Neuroscientific Facts, by Joseph Dumit
01/01/1969 (Circa)Brain Transplantation and Personal Identity, by Roland PuccettiBrain Transplantation and Personal Identity, by Roland Puccetti
22/04/1999The Genetic Self, by June PetersThe Genetic Self, by June Peters
05/08/1968Harvard Medical School landmark reportHarvard Medical School landmark report
01/01/1929 (Circa)The World, the Flesh, and the Devil, by J.D. BernalThe World, the Flesh, and the Devil, by J.D. Bernal
01/01/1690 (Circa)The Second Treatise of Government, by John LockeThe Second Treatise of Government, by John Locke
01/01/1701 BCE (Circa)Edwin Smith surgical papyrusEdwin Smith surgical papyrus
01/01/1621 (Circa)Anatomy of Melancholy, by Robert BurtonAnatomy of Melancholy, by Robert Burton
01/01/1649 (Circa)Passions of the Soul, by René DescartesPassions of the Soul, by René Descartes
01/01/351 BCE (Circa)De Anima, by AristotleDe Anima, by Aristotle
01/01/120101/01/1599AristotelianismAristotelianism
01/01/401 BCE (Circa)On the Sacred Disease, by HippocratesOn the Sacred Disease, by Hippocrates
01/01/1575 (Circa)The Tryal of Wits, by Juan HuarteThe Tryal of Wits, by Juan Huarte
01/01/1664 (Circa)The Anatomy of the Brain and Nerves, by Thomas WillisThe Anatomy of the Brain and Nerves, by Thomas Willis
01/01/1661 (Circa)01/01/1699 (Circa)CorpuscularianismCorpuscularianism
01/01/1694 (Circa)Essay Concerning Human Understanding, by John LockeEssay Concerning Human Understanding, by John Locke
01/01/1760 (Circa)Analytical Essay on the Faculties of the Soul, by Charles Bonnet
01/01/1907 (Circa)Quote by Auguste Forel
01/01/1912 (Circa)Quote by Oskar Vogt
01/01/1796 (Circa)01/01/1840 (Circa)PhrenologyPhrenology
01/01/1861 (Circa)The case of Tan, studied by Paul BrocaThe case of Tan, studied by Paul Broca
18/04/1955Albert Einstein's deathAlbert Einstein's death
01/01/1950 (Circa)Cybernetics
01/01/1924 (Circa)First human electroencephalogram (EEG) recordedFirst human electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded
01/01/1990 (Circa)Neuroplasticity
01/01/2003 (Circa)Jonathon Keats copyrights his brain
01/01/1844 (Circa)The Duality of the Mind, by Arthur Wigan
01/01/1874 (Circa)The Brain Power of Man: Has He Two Brains or Has He One?, by Brown-Séquard
01/01/1900 (Circa)New Methods in Education, by James Liberty Tadd
01/01/1903 (Circa)Foundation of the British Ambidextral Culture Society
27/12/2006Article on Brain Calisthenics, at The New York TimesArticle on Brain Calisthenics, at The New York Times
01/01/1828 (Circa)The Constitution of Man Considered in Relation to External Objects, by George CombeThe Constitution of Man Considered in Relation to External Objects, by George Combe
01/01/1887 (Circa)First Book in Physiology and Hygiene, by John Harvey KelloggFirst Book in Physiology and Hygiene, by John Harvey Kellogg
01/01/1859 (Circa)Self-Help, by Samuel SmilesSelf-Help, by Samuel Smiles
01/01/1869 (Circa)01/01/1885 (Circa)The New Thought or Mind Cure Movement
01/01/2002 (Circa)Foundation of the Posit Science Corporation
01/01/1960 (Circa)Right-brain boom
01/03/1992Smart for Life, by Michael D. Chafetz
15/01/2001The Executive Brain, by Elkhonon GoldbergThe Executive Brain, by Elkhonon Goldberg