Field dependence, laterality and the EEG: a reanalysis of O'Connor and Shaw (1978)

O'Connor and Shaw (1978) investigated the relationship between field-dependence-independence (taken as a measure of cognitive organization), handedness strength (taken as a measure of functional organization), and resting EEG coherence spectra in the alpha band (taken as a measure of cortical organization). All three variables were found to be significantly interrelated in the right-handed as well as the left-handed subsample. However, some inconsistencies in the original report suggested the need for reanalysis of the data. The results of that reanalysis are presented here. When a mean unsigned error was used as score for the Rod and Frame Test, more field-independent subjects consistently showed lower EEG coherence spectra than more field-dependent subjects. Also, both right-handed and left-handed field-independent individuals tended to show a stronger degree of handedness in the direction of their lateral preference than field-dependent subjects, indicating that a more field-independent approach is associated with greater specialization irrespective of the direction of lateral preference.