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Variable left-hemisphere language and orthographic lateralization reduces right-hemisphere face lateralization.

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Right-handed individuals show distinct brain lateralization for words (left hemisphere) and faces (right hemisphere). Left-handed individuals exhibit less consistent right hemisphere face processing, suggesting an interaction between word and face brain regions.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Psycholinguistics

Background:

  • Traditionally, word processing is associated with the left hemisphere (LH) and face processing with the right hemisphere (RH) in right-handed individuals.
  • Emerging research indicates potential interdependence between the neural systems for word and face processing.
  • A proposed interactive account suggests LH word lateralization influences RH face lateralization due to representational competition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between hemispheric specialization for words and faces in both right- and left-handed adults.
  • To examine how handedness influences the degree of right hemisphere (RH) lateralization for face processing.
  • To explore the neural underpinnings of face processing lateralization using behavioral measures and event-related potentials (ERPs).

Main Methods:

  • Comparison of behavioral discrimination accuracy for words and faces in right- and left-handed participants.
  • Utilizing event-related potentials (ERPs), specifically the N170 component, to measure neural responses.
  • Correlating behavioral performance and ERP amplitudes with handedness and hemispheric processing.

Main Results:

  • Both right- and left-handed groups showed left hemisphere (LH) superiority for word discrimination.
  • Only right-handed individuals exhibited right hemisphere (RH) superiority for face discrimination.
  • Increased right-handedness correlated with stronger RH superiority in face processing, linked to the N170 ERP component.
  • RH face processing superiority was predicted by the magnitude of the LH N170 response to words.

Conclusions:

  • The findings support an interactive model where LH word processing influences RH face specialization.
  • Atypical language lateralization in left-handed individuals may lead to reduced RH face lateralization due to diminished competition from LH word representations.
  • Hemispheric specialization for faces is not entirely independent and is modulated by language lateralization and handedness.