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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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tDCS effects in basic symbolic number magnitude processing are not significantly lateralized.

Narjes Bahreini¹, Christina Artemenko², Christian Plewnia^3,4

¹Department of Psychology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. narjes.bahreini@uni-tuebingen.de.

Scientific Reports

|December 6, 2023

Summary

This study investigated number processing lateralization in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). While no significant effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) were found, exploratory analysis suggested right IPS stimulation may impact single-digit processing.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive neuroscience
Neurobiology
Neuroscience

Background:

Functional lateralization is established for many cognitive domains, but not definitively for number processing.
The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) is implicated in number magnitude processing, with potential differing roles for the left and right hemispheres.
The influence of number distance on IPS lateralization remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of number size in the lateralization of number processing within the IPS.
To examine the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on number comparison accuracy and speed.
To determine if left or right IPS stimulation differentially affects processing of small vs. large number distances.

Main Methods:

A preregistered study using anodal tDCS applied over the left and right IPS, compared to sham stimulation.
Participants performed single-digit and two-digit number comparison tasks with varying number distances.
Behavioral data on accuracy and reaction time were collected to assess the effects of stimulation.

Main Results:

No significant facilitatory or inhibitory effects of anodal tDCS on number comparison were observed.
Exploratory analyses indicated that tDCS over the right IPS slowed down single-digit number processing, even after accounting for training effects.
These findings suggest a complex, potentially bilateral, representation of number magnitude in the IPS.

Conclusions:

Number magnitude processing appears to be bilaterally represented in the IPS.
The exploratory findings highlight the need for further research into the functional lateralization of number processing within the IPS.
Current evidence does not strongly support distinct lateralized roles for processing small vs. large number distances in the IPS.