Hemispheric contributions to nonverbal abstract reasoning and problem solving.
Hemispheric involvement in reasoning abilities has been debated for some time, and it remains unclear whether the right hemisphere's involvement in problem solving is modality specific or dependent on the type of spatial reasoning required. In the current study, 2 types of nonverbal reasoning abilities were examined, spatial reasoning and proportional reasoning, in 109 patients with cerebrovascular disease that was confined to either the right or the left hemisphere or was diffuse in nature. Results indicated that no lateralizing effects were present based on type of spatial reasoning. Findings are consistent with the suggestion that higher order cognitive processes involved in nonverbal abstraction and problem solving are not strongly lateralized to the right hemisphere but rather are more generally distributed throughout the cortex.
Allen
Daniel N
DN
Neuropsychology Research Program, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154-5030, USA. daniel.allen@unlv.edu
Strauss
Gregory P
GP
Kemtes
Karen A
KA
Goldstein
Gerald
G
D000328:Adult; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*