Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Lateralization

Lateralization

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.

Cerebral Hemispheres

Cerebral 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...

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...

Language and Cognition

Language 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.

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...

Lobes of the Cerebrum

Lobes 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.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Are 7-point Likert scales preferable to 5-point scales in language research?

Behavior research methods·2026

Same author

On the Construct Validity of Performance-Based Emotion Recognition Tests: Correlations with Social-Emotional Functioning and Cognitive Skills.

Psychologica Belgica·2026

Same author

Adding volition to word processing: Expected utility norms for 80,000 English words and multiword expressions.

Behavior research methods·2026

Same author

Editorial Journal of Psycholinguistic Research.

Journal of psycholinguistic research·2026

Same author

Assessing Text Experience in British Primary School Children: New Validated Title and Author Recognition Tests.

Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)·2026

Same author

Updating the German Psycholinguistic Word Toolbox with AI-Generated Estimates of Concreteness, Valence, Arousal, Age of Acquisition, and Familiarity.

Journal of cognition·2026

Same journal

Chemotactic self-organization captures the dynamics of mammalian hair follicle patterning.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Tomographic imaging of superconducting order using particle-hole interference.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Inhibitory potential of autologous neutralizing antibodies sets quantitative limits on the rebound-competent HIV-1 reservoir.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Inferring epidemiological parameters under an infectious phylogeography model with visitor dynamics.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Analytical modeling for suction cup designs for skin-interfaced wearable devices.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Improving cell-free metabolism through direct integration of artificial respiratory chains.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Published on: November 16, 2017

Complementary hemispheric specialization for language production and visuospatial attention.

Qing Cai¹, Lise Van der Haegen, Marc Brysbaert

¹Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. miao.cai@gmail.com

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|January 9, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Complementary brain lateralization for language production and spatial attention is causally linked. This finding supports a causal hypothesis, suggesting an evolutionary basis for specialized brain functions.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Published on: November 16, 2017

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology
Cerebral Lateralization

Background:

Language production and spatial attention are key lateralized brain functions.
Complementary specialization, where one function's lateralization influences the other, is common but its causal basis is debated.
Previous research suggests a statistical phenomenon rather than a causal link.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the causal origin of complementary specialization between language production and spatial attention.
To determine if lateralization of one function causally dictates the lateralization of the other.
To test the causal hypothesis against a statistical independence model.

Main Methods:

Assessed spatial attention lateralization in individuals with known atypical right hemispheric (RH) or left hemispheric (LH) language dominance.
Utilized a cohort derived from a large-scale screening of left-handers to identify participants with specific language lateralization.
Observed activity in dorsal fronto-parietal attention networks, including specific sulci and lobules.

Main Results:

All participants with RH language dominance exhibited LH dominance for spatial attention.
15 out of 16 participants with LH language dominance showed RH dominance for spatial attention.
Attention network regions functionally colateralized in the attention-dominant hemisphere, irrespective of language lateralization side.

Conclusions:

Results strongly support the causal hypothesis of complementary specialization between language and spatial attention.
The findings suggest a deep evolutionary origin for this functional brain organization.
Caution is advised when interpreting lateralization studies using unselected samples or coarse assessment methods.