Neurobehavioral hemispheric preferences: a case of sexual dimorphism

Ninety subjects (47 females and 43 males) with age ranging from 17 to 25 completed a neurobehavioral inventory of hemispheric preference. The inventory (Wagner & Wells, 1985) consists of 12 items, each of which has 4 statements that relate to four different functions of the two hemispheres namely: (a) Left-logical (b) Left-verbal (c) Right-manipulative/spatial and (d) Right-creative. The results indicated an overall preference for verbal-logical tasks. This preference pattern was more pronounced in males than in the female subjects. Also, the female subjects exhibited greater preference for creative tasks (activities), whereas the males showed preference for verbal tasks. These results suggests that proficiency and preference may not necessarily follow the similar pattern.