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Handedness, footedness, and language laterality: evidence from Wada testing
G S Watson1, R L Pusakulich, J P Ward
1Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, TN, USA.
Laterality
|October 30, 2004
Summary
Foot preference, like hand preference, effectively predicts language laterality in epilepsy patients undergoing temporal lobe resection evaluation. This finding aids in understanding brain organization for speech and motor functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Epileptology
Background:
- Understanding language laterality is crucial for surgical planning in epilepsy.
- Temporal lobe epilepsy often involves complex brain organization.
- Handedness is a commonly assessed indicator of cerebral dominance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the predictive value of foot preference versus hand preference for language laterality.
- To evaluate the utility of the Lateral Dominance Examination in epilepsy surgery candidates.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-seven epilepsy surgery candidates completed the Lateral Dominance Examination (self-report).
- Hand and foot preferences were assessed.
- Results were compared to speech dominance determined by the Intracarotid Sodium Amytal Procedure (Wada test).
Main Results:
- Footedness demonstrated comparable predictive accuracy for language laterality as handedness.
- Self-reported foot preference emerged as a significant predictor of speech dominance.
Conclusions:
- Foot preference is a valuable and accessible tool for predicting language laterality in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.
- This finding may offer an alternative or supplementary method to the Wada test for assessing cerebral dominance.