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Eye preference patterns among left-handed adults.
1Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3P5, Canada.
Laterality
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Hand, foot, and eye preference (sidedness) are often congruent, especially in older adults. This suggests a shared biological basis for these lateral preferences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Biology
- Psychology
Background:
- Lateral preference, encompassing handedness, footedness, and eye preference, is a fundamental aspect of human neurobiology.
- Previous research suggests potential links between limb and eye lateralization, but findings require further investigation across diverse age groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sidedness congruency between limb (hand and foot) and eye preference in a large adult sample.
- To examine how age influences the relationship between hand-eye and foot-eye preference congruency.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 387 adults (aged 18-94 years) with balanced right- and left-hander representation was assessed.
- Data on hand, foot, and eye preference were collected and analyzed for patterns of congruency.
Main Results:
- Both right- and left-handers showed a higher-than-chance incidence of hand-eye preference congruency.
- Hand-eye preference congruency was more prevalent in older adults.
- Left eye preference was more likely to occur with left hand or left foot preference across all age groups.
Conclusions:
- Limb and eye lateral preferences exhibit significant congruency, supporting the hypothesis of a common underlying mechanism.
- Age appears to modulate the strength of hand-eye and foot-eye preference associations.
- These findings align with existing meta-analyses and contribute to understanding the neurobiological basis of lateralization.