An investigation of hemispheric specialization and visual event related potentials in discriminations of line length

The purpose of the present study was to examine possible hemispheric differences in discriminations of line length and to determine whether the visual event related potential (ERP) recorded from over left and right hemispheres was related to performance. Twelve right-handed subjects participated on each of 2 separate days. The visual ERPs were derived from left occipital (O1) and right occipital (O2) placements. Eye blinks and vertical and lateral eye movements were also monitored. A single vertical 1.0 cm line (Standard) was displayed for 40 ms and was followed 2 s later by either a 0.9 cm, 1.0 cm or 1.1 cm (Comparison) line (also 40 ms). Subjects were asked to judge whether the second of the lines (Comparison) was "shorter" or "longer" than the first. Stimuli appeared at the center of a screen or at 1 degree 24' to the left and right of central fixation. Accuracy of line length judgements were similar in all 3 visual fields indicating a lack of hemispheric performance asymmetry for this type of discrimination task. In addition, there was no evidence of hemispheric asymmetry in the ERPs. The ambiguous discrimination involving the 1.0 cm standard and comparison lines seems to have influenced P3 latencies at both hemispheres. Namely, P3 latency was significantly longer in response to the 1.0 cm line than to the 0.9 cm or 1.1 cm lines. We propose that the ambiguous discrimination required a greater time for simulus evaluation and that this was reflected in the delayed P3 latencies.