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Disentangling the relationship between hemispheric asymmetry and cognitive performance
Marco Hirnstein1, Stuart Leask, Jonas Rose
1Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Science Laboratories, Durham, United Kingdom. m.a.hirnstein@durham.ac.uk
Brain and Cognition
|May 18, 2010
Summary
Hemispheric asymmetry, the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- The prevailing view suggests a positive linear relationship between hemispheric asymmetry (brain lateralization) and cognitive performance.
- This implies greater lateralization leads to enhanced task-specific abilities.
- However, empirical evidence supporting this notion is inconsistent, and analytical methods have faced scrutiny.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hemispheric asymmetries and cognitive performance.
- To examine this relationship in specific tasks: a left-lateralized word-matching task and a right-lateralized face-decision task.
- To challenge the assumption of a simple positive linear correlation.
Main Methods:
- Studied 230 participants (140 women, 90 men).
- Utilized two distinct analytical approaches to assess hemispheric asymmetry.
- Measured performance on a word-matching task (left-hemisphere dominant) and a face-decision task (right-hemisphere dominant).
Main Results:
- Confirmed a significant relationship between hemispheric asymmetry and cognitive performance.
- Data best fit an inverted U-shaped curve, not a positive linear trend.
- Optimal cognitive performance was observed with slight to moderate hemispheric asymmetry; extreme lateralization led to performance decline.
Conclusions:
- Provides evidence against the hypothesis that higher degrees of lateralization invariably enhance cognitive performance.
- Suggests an optimal, non-extreme level of brain asymmetry for peak cognitive function.
- Highlights the complexity of the relationship between brain lateralization and cognitive abilities.
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