The association between stress, hemispheric specialization, and callosal interactions

This study examines the effects of stress on hemispheric specialization and callosal transfer. Previous research suggests that the two cerebral hemispheres are asymmetric in their regulation of and response to stress. Further, studies have suggested that the activity of the corpus callosum may also be affected by stress. A group of 28 participants completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and performed a bilateral Stroop task. The bilateral Stroop task contains separate conditions which measure both hemispheric specialization and callosal transfer. A significant correlation was found between state anxiety and our measure of callosal transfer. Specifically, those individuals with greater state anxiety experience more efficient callosal transfer than did those with lower state anxiety. We conclude that state anxiety enhances callosal transfer without affecting hemispheric specialization.