Lateralization of kinesthetically guided spatial perception.
The present study measured unimanual kinesthetic discrimination for the right and left thumb angular position of male and female right handers without left handed relatives. Each subject's discrimination threshold and constant error were obtained by the Method of Constant Stimuli. Subjects either made an active movement in assessing the standard thumb angle or were passive while the angle was set by the experimenter. Subjects either reported their decision orally or made a non-verbal movement. A difference was found between the thumbs in the direction of more sensitive kinesthetic discrimination by the left thumb (right hemisphere). The left thumb was found to have smaller discrimination threshold of angular position by about 20% over the right thumb. Sex, passive movement mode, and verbal response were not related to the lateralization effect.
Nishizawa
S
S
Department of Physical Education, Seitoku Junior College of Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan.
Saslow
C A
CA
D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013933:Thumb / Q000502:physiology*