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Reliability of the Lateral Dominance Examination
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
|March 1, 1993
Summary
The Lateral Dominance Examination reliably measures handedness, eyedness, and footedness over time in adults. This study confirms its consistency for assessing lateral preference in both healthy and neurologically impaired individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Lateral preference, encompassing handedness, eyedness, and footedness, is a fundamental aspect of human neurobiology.
- Understanding the reliability of lateral dominance measures is crucial for clinical and research applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the test-retest reliability of the Lateral Dominance Examination over a 5-year period.
- To assess the stability of individual lateral preference items and summary measures.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 162 adults, including both neurologically normal and impaired individuals.
- Stability of handedness, eyedness, and footedness measures was analyzed over a 5-year interval.
Main Results:
- The Lateral Dominance Examination demonstrated high reliability, particularly for handedness items (e.g., writing hand at 100%).
- Eyedness and footedness showed slightly lower, but still acceptable, reliability.
- Consistency was not significantly affected by neurological status, impairment severity, or gender, though non-right-handers showed a trend toward lower consistency.
Conclusions:
- The Lateral Dominance Examination is a reliable tool for assessing lateral preference in adults.
- Its stability over time supports its use in longitudinal studies and clinical assessments of neurological function.