Individual Differences and Hemispheric Asymmetries for Language and Spatial Attention

Louise O'Regan, Deborah J Serrien, Louise O'Regan, Deborah J Serrien

Abstract

Language and spatial processing are cognitive functions that are asymmetrically distributed across both cerebral hemispheres. In the present study, we compare left- and right-handers on word comprehension using a divided visual field paradigm and spatial attention using a landmark task. We investigate hemispheric asymmetries by assessing the participants' behavioral metrics; response accuracy, reaction time and their laterality index. The data showed that right-handers benefitted more from left-hemispheric lateralization for language comprehension and right-hemispheric lateralization for spatial attention than left-handers. Furthermore, left-handers demonstrated a more variable distribution across both hemispheres, supporting a less focal profile of functional brain organization. Taken together, the results underline that handedness distinctively modulates hemispheric processing and behavioral performance during verbal and nonverbal tasks. In particular, typical lateralization is most prevalent for right-handers whereas atypical lateralization is more evident for left-handers. These insights contribute to the understanding of individual variation of brain asymmetries and the mechanisms related to changes in cerebral dominance.

Keywords: handedness; landmark task; laterality; visual half-field; word comprehension.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trial sequence and timing of the language task. After presentation of the fixation cross, two words were shown bilaterally, with an arrowhead pointing to the target word. The words were subsequently replaced by backward masks followed by an intertrial interval.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trial sequence and timing of the landmark task. After presentation of the fixation cross, a pre-marked horizontal line was shown for 150 ms. Following a delay, the line was backward-masked with a series of criss-crossed lines followed by an intertrial interval.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Handedness scores of the manipulation actions and gestures for the left- and right-handers. Both handedness groups show increased use of the non-dominant hand for gestures than for manipulation actions.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Scatter plot of the LITIM as a function of the participants’ handedness scores for the language task, with the left- and right-handers demonstrating distinct performance biases.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Response accuracy of left- and right-sided marked trials for the left- and right-handers. The right-handers showed higher response accuracy for the trials with marker in the left than right visual field whereas the left-handers did not show differences between both sides.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Scatter plot of the LIACC as a function of the participants’ handedness scores for the landmark task, with the left- and right-handers revealing distinctive performance tendencies.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Scatter plot of the LITIM between the language and landmark tasks, illustrating typical and atypical lateralization patterns for the left- and right-handers.

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