title: Hemispheric lateralization in aging: interest of the verbal-manual concurrency paradigm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the classic asymmetry seen in hemispheric functioning is modified in older adults by using a verbal-manual concurrency task.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five right-handed participants divided into two groups according to age (15 older participants, mean age: 68 ? 8 years, without cognitive decline and 20 younger participants, mean age: 23 ? 2 years) had to perform a 30-second uni-manual tapping task, in both a single task (tapping alone) and dual task (tapping and performing a letter fluency task together) condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In younger participants, the letter fluency task disrupted the right hand more than the left hand whereas, in older participants, the letter fluency task disrupted both hands equally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results should be considered preliminary data using a behavioral dual task condition, which might be useful for studying lateralized hemispheric functioning and the processes of divided attention during aging.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Medicine Unit, CHRU Tours, F. Rabelais University, Tours, France. annecougnaud2002@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Constans
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mondon
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Danièle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrier-Palisson
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marqué
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hommet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011930:Reaction Time; D014705:Verbal Behavior