Asymmetrical hemispheric activation and behavioral persistence: effects of unilateral muscle contractions.
Contractions of the left hand and of the left side of the lower third of the face induce negative emotional states whereas right-sided contractions induce positive states. Contractions also have mood-congruent influences on perception. This article reports that contractions affect behavior as well. Persistence in attempting to solve insoluble problems is greater following right-sided contractions than following left-sided contractions. This effect is unrelated to dominance of the contracted muscles because right-handed individuals tend to be left-face dominant. Results support the hypothesis that unilateral contractions activate the contralateral cerebral hemispheres and arouse the hemispheres' respective functions with regard to emotion and behavior.
Schiff
B B
BB
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. schiff@psych.utoronto.ca
Guirguis
M
M
Kenwood
C
C
Herman
C P
CP
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009666:Nose; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology