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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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm

Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm

Published on: May 15, 2019

A left visual advantage for quantity processing in neonates.

Koleen McCrink¹, Ludovica Veggiotti², Maria Dolores de Hevia²

¹Department of Psychology, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, New York.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|August 19, 2020

Summary

Newborn infants show an innate bias for processing numerical quantities presented visually on the left. This early visual processing preference suggests a foundational aspect of human numerical cognition.

Keywords:

lateralization magnitude neonates number quantity space

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm

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Published on: May 15, 2019

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

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Published on: October 24, 2019

A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking

A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking

Published on: July 9, 2016

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Human numerical cognition is a complex field.
Understanding early biases is crucial for cognitive development.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate innate biases in processing visual quantity information in newborns.
To determine if there is a left-field advantage for numerical processing.

Main Methods:

Forty-eight newborn infants were exposed to multimodal stimuli.
Auditory quantities were paired with visual object arrays on the left or right side.
Infants' looking times were recorded to assess preferential processing.

Main Results:

Infants looked significantly longer when the visual quantity on the left matched the auditory quantity.
This indicates a preferential attention to left-sided visual numerical information.

Conclusions:

This study provides the first evidence of an untrained, innate bias in humans.
Newborns preferentially process quantity information presented in the left visual field.
This bias may represent a fundamental aspect of early numerical cognition.