What is the difference between the left and right hemispheres of the brain?

Question: What is the difference between the left and right hemispheres of the brain?
- Keywords:
  brain,
  difference,
  hemispheres,
  left,
  neuroscience,
  right
Asked by meggsie46 to Jen, James on 19 Mar 2013. This question was also asked by esther4367.
- Jen Todd Jones answered on 19 Mar 2013:
  
  Hi meggsie
  
  Actually there’s a lot more in common between the brain halves than there is difference! If you split the brain straight down the middle between the eyes (along the part called the corpus callosum) the two halves would be almost identical in their shape, look and function! The only main difference between the two halves is that the left is where language tends to be processed, and the right takes care of more abstract and spatial ideas. Maybe this is because its more efficient in terms of the energy used, if one half is specialised at thinking about one thing then it doesn’t have to waste time by having the whole brain thinking about it – but this isn’t something were sure about, it’s one of those great situations where science doesn’t have all of the answers yet.
  
  Jen

Question: What is the difference between the left and right hemispheres of the brain?