Sex and the single hemisphere: specialization of the right hemisphere for spatial processing.

Specialization of the right hemisphere for spatial processing was studied in 200 normal boys and girls between 6 and 13 years of age. Boys performed in a manner consistent with right hemisphere specialization as early as the age of 6. Girls showed evidence of bilateral representation until the age of 13. The results suggest a sexual dimorphism in the neural organization underlying cognition during a major period of childhood. The results, which have implications for reading instruction, are discussed in terms of a possible sex difference in neural plasticity during development and the clinical consequences of such a difference.

[1]  J A Wada,et al.  Cerebral hemispheric asymmetry in humans. Cortical speech zones in 100 adults and 100 infant brains. , 1975, Archives of neurology.

[2]  F. Nottebohm.  Ontogeny of bird song. , 1970, Science.

[3]  L. Ghent,et al.  Developmental changes in tactual thresholds on dominant and nondominant sides. , 1961, Journal of comparative and physiological psychology.

[4]  T. Ingram.  Specific developmental disorders of speech in childhood. , 1959, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[5]  D. Kimura,et al.  SPEECH LATERALIZATION IN YOUNG CHILDREN AS DETERMINED BY AN AUDITORY TEST. , 1963, Journal of comparative and physiological psychology.

[6]  J. Mcglone,et al.  The relation between cerebral speech laterality and spatial ability with special reference to sex and hand preference. , 1973, Neuropsychologia.

[7]  B Milner,et al.  Right-hemisphere superiority in tactile pattern-recognition after cerebral commissurotomy: evidence for nonverbal memory. , 1972, Neuropsychologia.

[8]  D. Kimura,et al.  Spatial localization in left and right visual fields. , 1969, Canadian journal of psychology.

[9]  M. Annett,et al.  Laterality of childhood hemiplegia and the growth of speech and intelligence. , 1973, Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior.

[10]  M. Dennis.  Sex-dependent and sex-independent neural control of reactivity to electric footshock in the rat. , 1972, Experimental neurology.

[11]  RITA G. RUDEL,et al.  The functional asymmetry of Braille letter learning in normal, sighted children , 1974, Neurology.

[12]  L. Basser.  Hemiplegia of early onset and the faculty of speech with special reference to the effects of hemispherectomy. , 1962, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[13]  A. Benton,et al.  Tactile perception of direction in normal subjects , 1973, Neurology.

[14]  S. F. Witelson,et al.  Hemispheric specialization for linguistic and nonlinguistic tactual perception using a dichotomous stimulation technique. , 1974, Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior.

[15]  B. Milner,et al.  Interhemispheric differences in the localization of psychological processes in man. , 1971, British medical bulletin.

[16]  H. LANSDELL,et al.  A Sex Difference in Effect of Temporal-Lobe Neurosurgery on Design Preference , 1962, Nature.

[17]  F. Nottebohm.  Neural lateralization of vocal control in a passerine bird , 1971 .

[18]  A. Benton,et al.  Tactile perception of direction and number in patients with unilateral cerebral disease , 1969, Neurology.

[19]  R. B. Freeman,et al.  The ontogeny of brain lateralization for speech and nonspeech stimuli , 1975, Brain and Language.

[20]  R. Liberman,et al.  AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE PLACEBO RESPONSE UNDER THREE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS OF PAIN. , 1964, Journal of psychiatric research.

[21]  R D Bock,et al.  Further evidence of sex-linked major-gene influence on human spatial visualizing ability. , 1973, American journal of human genetics.

[22]  D. Kimura,et al.  Cerebral processing of nonverbal sounds in boys and girls. , 1970, Neuropsychologia.

[23]  S. F. Witelson,et al.  Left hemisphere specialization for language in the newborn. Neuroanatomical evidence of asymmetry. , 1973, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[24]  H. Teuber,et al.  Levels of impairment of sensori-motor functions in children with early brain damage. , 1974, Neuropsychologia.

[25]  N O'Connor,et al.  Functional asymmetry in the reading of Braille. , 1971, Neuropsychologia.

[26]  M. Nagafuchi.  Development of dichotic and monaural hearing abilities in young children. , 1970, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[27]  H. Lansdell.  Effect of neurosurgery on the ability to identify popular word associations. , 1973, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[28]  H. E. Rosvold,et al.  Sex-Dependent Behavioral Effects of Cerebral Cortical Lesions in the Developing Rhesus Monkey , 1974, Science.

[29]  R. Nebes,et al.  Dominance of the minor hemisphere in commissurotomized man on a test of figural unification. , 1972, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[30]  D. Ingram.  Cerebral speech lateralization in young children , 1975, Neuropsychologia.

[31]  R. Nebes.  Superiority of the minor hemisphere in commissurotomized man for the perception of part-whole relations. , 1971, Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior.