The term "hemisphere" is a means of referring to a half of the brain, usually with respect to lateralized functions and processes. Essentially, a hemisphere can be thought of as a single entity within the larger unified brain system, with each hemisphere composed of distinct anatomical structures that process particular kinds of information. In terms of lateralization, the left hemisphere is typically associated with analytic, linguistic and symbolic activity, while the right hemisphere is more closely associated with the processing of affective, holistic and visual-spatial information. It is important to understand that in order to benefit from a unified and integrated brain system, both hemispheres must retain their distinct functions and be integrated into a system of dynamic relationships.

See also: left hemisphere, right hemisphere, corpus callosum, hemispheric hypothesis