Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
05:36
Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention
Published on: November 16, 2017
Knowledge-based inferences across the hemispheres: domain makes a difference.
Connie Shears1, Amanda Hawkins, Andria Varner
1Psychology, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, United States. shears@chapman.edu
Neuropsychologia
|May 24, 2008
Summary
The left and right hemispheres process different types of information during language comprehension. The right hemisphere handles planning inferences, while the left hemisphere processes physical cause-and-effect inferences.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psycholinguistics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Language comprehension involves cooperation between the left hemisphere (LH) and right hemisphere (RH).
- Previous research suggests hemispheric specialization in cognitive functions.
- The specific roles of each hemisphere in different types of inference remain to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of knowledge domain in hemispheric specialization during language comprehension.
- To test the hypothesis that the RH is involved in planning inferences and the LH in physical cause-and-effect inferences.
Main Methods:
- Divided-visual-field reading tasks were employed in two experiments.
- Experiment 1 used 2-sentence stimuli; Experiment 2 used longer, story-length stimuli.
- Sixty-eight participants in Experiment 1 and sixty-four in Experiment 2 completed the reading tasks.
Main Results:
- Readers made more planning inferences when information was presented to the RH.
- Readers made more physical cause-and-effect inferences when information was presented to the LH.
- Findings were consistent across both short and long-form stimuli.
Conclusions:
- Hemispheric differences in inference processing are dependent on the specific knowledge domain required.
- The RH specializes in planning-related inferences, while the LH specializes in physical cause-and-effect inferences.
- This study specifies the domain-dependent nature of hemispheric specialization in language comprehension.
More Related Videos
07:03Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice
Published on: July 31, 2019
13:12Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
Published on: August 12, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
01:28Lateralization
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
01:22Lobes of the Cerebrum
The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
01:11Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II
Each cerebral hemisphere can be divided into three main regions. The outermost region, the cerebral cortex, is a thin layer (2 to 4 millimeters thick) made up of gray matter, consisting of neuron cell bodies, dendrites, glial cells, and blood vessels. The middle region, or white matter, is primarily composed of myelinated nerve fibers organized into three types of large tracts: association fibers, commissures, and projection fibers. Association fibers connect different areas within the same...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:31Organization of the Brain
The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...