The effect of lesions of the corpus callosum on finger localization

Finger localization was studied in 10 cases of cerebral commissurotomy (four complete, six partial) and 24 normal subjects. Stimulation of one finger with the same hand responding produced ceiling performance in all subjects. Responses with the other hand (cross-localization) were 82% worse with full commissurotomy, 28% worse with the trunk of the corpus callosum sectioned, and 7% worse in the controls. The trunk of the corpus callosum normally transfers tactile information, but the splenium can subsume 50% of this function and tactile transfer with complete commissurotomy exceeded chance levels. The partially sectioned and normal male subjects showed a right-hand stimulation advantage for sequences. In both normals and partially sectioned subjects, cross-localization was poorest when mirror-image transfer of finger sequences was required, while spatial alignment of the fingers facilitated transfer. With complete commissurotomy, response hand orientation did not affect cross-localization. Thus the corpus callosum transmits the position of each hand between the hemispheres.