title: Individual differences in degree of handedness and somesthetic asymmetry predict individual differences in left-right confusion.
abstract: Confusion or frustration connected with daily demands involving left-right discrimination is a common observation even in neurologically intact adults. We aimed to test the hypothesis that the degree of left-right confusion is associated with bodily asymmetry. Sixty-two female volunteers performed a left-right decision task that required fast responses to visually presented directional words (left, right, up, down) or pictograms (<--, -->, upward arrow, downward arrow). Participants also performed several tests that measured asymmetry of handedness, grip strength, and tactile sensitivity, and completed self-reports on left-right confusion and perceived bodily asymmetry. Results showed significant correlations between left-right confusion and the degree of handedness and asymmetry in tactile sensitivity. These results suggest that individuals who reveal a stronger internal bias between both sides of the body show less left-right confusion than people with less salient bodily asymmetry.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185-4K3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. guy.vingerhoets@ugent.be
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vingerhoets
authors.forename: Iemke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sarrechia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003221:Confusion; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013028:Space Perception; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055698:Touch Perception