Which side of the brain controls sign language — the right, where our visual and spatial faculties lie, or the left, where spoken-language ability resides?
That was the fundamental question confronting the first sign-language researchers in the 1970’s and 80’s. It was an open question whether sign language was controlled by the right half of the brain or the left, and persuasive arguments could be made on both sides. Then, one brilliant scientist was inspired to study Deaf signers who had suffered strokes. The findings were astonishing — and they answered the question once and for all. I explore these studies of the signing brain in detail in Chapter 16 of Talking Hands.
