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Related Experiment Video

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

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Testing the relationship between lateralization on sequence-based motor tasks and language laterality using an online

Jack H Grant^1,2, Adam J Parker^2,3, Jessica C Hodgson⁴

¹School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.

|October 7, 2022

Summary

This study investigated the link between motor and language laterality using a novel online assessment. Results showed no significant association, suggesting limited co-lateralization between sequence-based motor skills and language processing.

Keywords:

Handedness motor laterality online research methods reliability speech lateralization

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology
Human Motor Control

Background:

Research suggests a link between motor laterality and speech production laterality, possibly due to shared sequential processing demands.
Previous studies often used small sample sizes and lacked robust reliability assessments for lateralization measures.

Purpose of the Study:

To establish the validity and reliability of an online battery for assessing sequence-based motor and language laterality.
To explore associations between motor laterality indices and language laterality.

Main Methods:

An online battery assessing motor and language laterality was administered to 621 participants, with 52 completing it a second time for reliability testing.
Three motor tasks and a novel speech production laterality measure were included.

Main Results:

Motor tasks demonstrated good between-session reliability (r=0.78) and aligned with hand preference.
Speech production laterality measure showed population-level left lateralization but less satisfactory reliability (r=0.62).
No significant association was found between sequence-based motor laterality and language laterality.

Conclusions:

The study found limited evidence for co-lateralization between language and sequence-based motor skills using the developed online battery.
Left-handers showed stronger lateralization on motor tasks involving midline crossing, an effect not seen in right-handers.