A common belief is that the left side of the brain is all about logic and problem-solving, while the right side handles imagination and creativity. You might even have heard someone use the term “left-brained" to describe a math whiz or chess champion, and “right-brained” to talk about actors and artists. So, is it true? Does everyone really have a dominant brain hemisphere that defines their strengths? Think it over, then click "Read More" to uncover the answer!

You've probably heard the claim that we only use 10% of our brains, leaving vast reserves of untapped potential. It’s a fascinating idea that has captured the public imagination—but what does science actually say? Take a moment to consider whether this claim might be true or false, then click "Read More" to find out!

From memory and movement to creativity and curiosity, the brain is behind it all… but not everything we hear about neuroscience is true!

In 2025, we’re bringing back the Brainreach blog- starting with a special series of interactive posts. Every Monday, we’ll explore a popular myth or fact about the brain, and see where science really stands.
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So... can you tell fact from fiction? Let's find out! 🧠❤️

​What does it mean to be intelligent? For years, researchers believed that intelligence was based on how well a person scored on an IQ (or “Intelligence Quotient”) test.
 
Eventually, researchers realized that IQ is not everything! It was found that those who scored top marks on IQ tests were generally quite good at solving puzzles. However, they were not necessarily very strong in other tasks of creativity or even common sense!
 
Since then, other ways of measuring intelligence have been used. One key method is to look at "emotional intelligence". It measures how well people understand how other people are feeling. To date, no one theory of intelligence has been able to truly tell what it means to be intelligent. But in a way, that makes sense. 
 
What is probably the most exciting thing about intelligence research is that it has taught us that we are all intelligent in our own ways. 
 
By learning how to work with our strengths and weaknesses, we can all learn to appreciate one another for who we are.
 
So, after a long year at school, please know that no matter what, you are very intelligent! 
 
BrainReach thanks you all for spending this time with us! We wish you, your families, and your teachers a very happy Summer!
 

​If you’ve heard a saying like “All Canadians Are Nice”, then you’ve experienced a "stereotype".
 
A stereotype is a way humans think about others based on groupings of information. While stereotypes can sometimes be useful, they can also be very harmful. 
 
How's that? Well, stereotypes are often wrong. Stereotypes can hurt someone’s feelings. Worse yet, stereotypes can prevent people from doing activities that they enjoy or are very good at.
 
For example, a study asked several female Asian students to perform a math test. When asked to focus on their ethnic background before taking the test, they did well. This is due to the stereotype of "Asians being good in math". But, if the students were asked to focus on their gender before taking the test, they did worse! This is due to the influence of the stereotype that "girls are bad at math". 
 
Can we stop all stereotypes before they start? Unfortunately, research suggests that is not possible. This is because humans naturally like to group things. But what we can do is to break down these stereotypes. This involves showing exceptions until stereotypes are no longer accepted. 
 
No one should have to carry the weight of harmful and false rules of thumb. By countering stereotypes, we can try to make sure that everyone can follow their dreams.

​Humans are not the greatest at smelling. Compared to animals like rats, our smell systems are very small. Nevertheless, we're still decent at smelling! 
 
In one experiment, human participants were blindfolded. They were then asked to smell their way across a scented field. It turned out that the participants did this task quite well! 
 
Our sense of smell probably developed for different reasons than rats. For example, we use smell to detect differences rather than to mark territory. 
 
So, while all brains come in different shapes and sizes, it’s important not to judge a brain region by its size.

​A very cool aspect of the brain is that it has two halves or ‘hemispheres’. Why? 
 
For one thing, each hemisphere is important for understanding the world on the opposite side of the body. For example, the right hemisphere moves the left side of the body. Interestingly, each hemisphere has an important role in language. The left hemisphere is crucial for communicating messages. The right hemisphere provides information about the quality of language (e.g., emotion). 
 
Certain people even live with their hemispheres separated from one another. People with this condition can show some interesting behavior. For example, imagine that a person is presented with two different objects to their left and right. A person may say that they see the object present on the right side. But they’ll draw the object present on their left-hand side with their right hand!
 
So, all together, this shows that our hemispheres are important and complex!

It’s February again and love is in the air! BUT! Is there a love center in the brain? 
 
For now, the verdict appears to be ‘no’. With that said, there are brain chemicals that affect emotional connection. One of these (please see the previous article ‘Why does cuddling with a pet feel nice’) is oxytocin. In fact, researchers think that oxytocin is the brain’s main ‘bonding’ chemical. This can be between friends, family members, and yes, members of a romantic couple. 
 
Nevertheless, how oxytocin works to produce the emotion of love remains an ongoing question. Neuroscientists think that it may affect a brain area called the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex. But there are most likely other brain regions that also play a part. 
 
What we can be certain of is that love in any form makes us feel good inside and is complicated!

​Now that it’s winter, you may be feeling a bit sadder than normal, have low energy, or even trouble concentrating. If you feel this way and it’s recent, know that you are not alone! You might be experiencing the common and very well named “Seasonal Affective Disorder” (S.A.D).
 
Interestingly, researchers have discovered that the reason behind Seasonal Affective Disorder is because of the lack of the amount of sunlight. In fact, a really great way to treat the condition is by getting sunlight! 
 
So, this winter, be sure to try to go outside for a walk whenever you can while the sun is still shining to help avoid or deal with S.A.D!

Around the winter holidays, many families gather around the dining table to enjoy a nice turkey meal. A common belief is that turkey meat can make people feel tired. But is this true? 
 
While turkey meat does contain serotonin (a brain chemical involved with sleep), the amount is very small! This means that even if you ate a lot of turkey meat, this cannot cause sleepiness. So why might you feel tired? 
 
Well, that might be because of the amount of food you’re eating. As we eat more, our stomachs expand and release molecules that tell our brains to stop. Researchers have found that one side effect of this is the feeling of fatigue. 
 
So, next time you feel tired at dinner, please know that it’s not the turkey’s fault!