Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/210595

Title

Psychophysical and electrophysiologic support for a left hemisphere temporal processing advantage

Author(s)

Nicholls, Michael E. R.;  Schier, Mark;  Stough, Con K. K.;  Box, Anna

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate cerebral asymmetries for the detection of brief temporal events in a group of 22 dextrals using psychophysical measures. Background: By combining electrophysiologic and psychophysical measures, it should be possible to demonstrate that the right ear advantage reported in previous studies is the result of a left hemisphere temporal processing advantage rather than a rightward attentional bias. Method: Bursts of white noise lasting 300 milliseconds were delivered unilaterally to the participants' ears. Half of the stimuli contained a gap lasting either 4 or 6 milliseconds. Participants indicated whether or not the noise burst contained a gap. Asymmetries in alpha and beta activity at left and right temporal lobe sites were measured during the task. Results: The psychophysical data confirmed previous reports of faster response times (RTs) and lower levels of error for the right ear (RE). There was no asymmetry in alpha activity between the left and right temporal lobes; however, there was a higher level of beta activity in the left temporal lobe. Conclusions: The electrophysiological data suggest that the perceptual asymmetry is not the result of a nonspecific rightward attentional bias but that of a left hemisphere specialization for the detection of brief temporal events. The relation between atypical temporal processing asymmetries and developmental learning disorders is discussed.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Brain Sciences Institute

Source

Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology, Vol. 12, no. 1 (Jan 1999), pp. 11-16

Publication year

1999

FOR Code(s)

11 Medical and Health Sciences;  17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences

Keyword(s)

Brain function;  Electrophysiology;  Left hemisphere;  Psychophysics;  Temporal lobe

Publisher

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN

0894-878X

Publisher URL

http://journals.lww.com/cogbehavneurol/toc/1999/01000

Copyright

Copyright © 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Peer reviewed