Lateral differences in visual processing: relative vs exclusive hemispheric specialization. 1986

R Bruyer

In some cases, lateral differences reveal cerebral hemispheric asymmetry in cognitive operations. Such asymmetry can indicate the absolute dominance of one hemisphere, the "dominant" hemisphere managing the task whatever the hemisphere of entry. Consequently, a commissural transfer is needed for stimuli sent to the non-dominance as only relative: the hemisphere receiving the stimulus is able to manage it, but the dominant one can do it more accurately and/or faster than the other. These two models should be able to be distinguished by means of a correlational study and a study of the stimulated hemifield X responding hand interaction. The latter is based on the assumption of contralateral control of slight distal movements. These two methods were applied to data derived from 24 right-handed normals who were given three tasks for which right visual field superiority was expected: word/non-word discrimination, vowel/consonant classification of letters, and odd/even categorization of numbers. The stimuli were displayed centrally or laterally for 150 ms. The data indicated that the right-field superiority for words resulted from a relative dominance, that the right-field advantage for numbers resulted from an absolute dominance, and that no asymmetry emerged for letters.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010364 Pattern Recognition, Visual Mental process to visually perceive a critical number of facts (the pattern), such as characters, shapes, displays, or designs. Recognition, Visual Pattern,Visual Pattern Recognition
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D004292 Dominance, Cerebral Dominance of one cerebral hemisphere over the other in cerebral functions. Cerebral Dominance,Hemispheric Specialization,Dominances, Cerebral,Specialization, Hemispheric
D005260 Female Females
D005556 Form Perception The sensory discrimination of a pattern, shape, or outline. Contour Perception,Contour Perceptions,Form Perceptions,Perception, Contour,Perception, Form,Perceptions, Contour,Perceptions, Form
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000704 Analysis of Variance A statistical technique that isolates and assesses the contributions of categorical independent variables to variation in the mean of a continuous dependent variable. ANOVA,Analysis, Variance,Variance Analysis,Analyses, Variance,Variance Analyses
D014795 Visual Pathways Set of cell bodies and nerve fibers conducting impulses from the eyes to the cerebral cortex. It includes the RETINA; OPTIC NERVE; optic tract; and geniculocalcarine tract. Pathway, Visual,Pathways, Visual,Visual Pathway

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