[Hemispheric asymmetry in tactile recognition tasks with left and right handers]

A tactile recognition test was conducted to examine the laterality differences in the adult left and right handers. In one condition (Non-rotation condition), tactually presented nonsense figures were matched to the visually presented recognition display. In another condition (Rotation condition), tactual stimuli were presented in various direction so that subjects matched the stimuli to the visual display by means of mental rotation. The results obtained from the right handers showed that there was no hand difference in the Non-rotation condition while significant left hand superiority was revealed in the Rotation condition. Left handers did not show any hand difference in both conditions. These results suggest that hemisphere difference in tactile recognition of the left handers is not identical to that of the right handers.