Neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric perspectives on maternal cradling preferences

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jechil S. Sieratzki ◽  
Bencie Woll
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Communication Behaviour ◽  
Social Attachment ◽  
Left Handed ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Hemisphere Dominance ◽  
The Right ◽  
Mother’S Voice

SUMMARYObjective – To assess competing explanations for the universal preference of mothers to cradle infants on their left side and to propose a relation to hemispheric asymmetry for social attachment and communication behaviour. Methods – A review of observational, experimental, physiological, psychological, neuro-physiological, and neuro-psychological studies, including new findings on the cradling behaviour of mothers with auditory or visual impairments. Results – A significant left-cradling bias is observed in both right- and left-handed mothers which cannot adequately be explained by arguments based on handedness or closer contact to the soothing sound of the maternal heartbeat. Observations of primate behaviour have led to the suggestion that the left-cradling bias may be related to a left visual field (right hemisphere) advantage for monitoring an infant's facial expressions of distress. However, more than just monitoring, cradling subserves the mother's connection with the infant. For that reason, we have suggested that left cradling might be related to a right hemisphere specialisation for emotional communication, i.e. the speech melody, smiles, signals, and stroking which mothers use to interact with their infants. Studies of mother-infant interaction show that the sound of the mother's voice is more soothing when cradling on the left, more stimulating when cradling on the right. Cradling laterality may thus be related to emotional state and behavioural intent. There is also evidence to suggest that left cradling is linked to a special role of the right hemisphere in social attachment behaviour. This function may be disturbed in mothers with postnatal depression who show abnormal right hemisphere activity. Conclusion – Cradling embodies the symbiotic relationship between mother and infant; various lines of evidence support the suggestion that the universal preference of mothers to cradle infants on their left side is related to a right hemisphere dominance for social attachment and communication behaviour.

Lateralization of Language

2019 ◽  
pp. 876-906
Author(s):  
Lise Van der Haegen ◽  
Qing Cai
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Speech Processing ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Hemispheric Specialization ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Language Impaired ◽  
Language Functions ◽  
Hemisphere Dominance ◽  
The Right

It is intriguing that the two brain halves of the human brain look so similar, but are in fact quite different at the anatomical level, and even more so at the functional level. In particular, the highly frequent co-occurrence of right-handedness and left hemisphere dominance of language has led to an abundance of laterality research. This chapter discusses the most important recent finding on laterality (i.e., left or right hemisphere) and degree of hemispheric specialization for speech production, auditory speech processing, and reading. Following a descriptive overview of these three core sub-processes of language, the chapter summarizes possible influences on the lateralization of each, including anatomical, evolutionary, genetic, developmental, and experiential factors, as well as handedness and impairment. It will become clear that language is a heterogeneous cognitive function driven by a variety of underpinning origins. Next, the often-underestimated role of the right hemisphere for language is discussed with respect to prosody and metaphor comprehension, as well as individual differences in the lateralization of healthy and language-impaired brains. Finally, recent insights into the relationship between lateralized language and non-language functions are discussed, highlighting the unique contribution of lateralization research to the growing knowledge of general human brain mechanisms.

scholarly journals The Role of Binocular Vision in Driving Pseudoneglect in Visual and Haptic Bisection: Evidence From Strabismic and Monocular Blind Individuals

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 549-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ciricugno ◽  
Luca Rinaldi ◽  
Tomaso Vecchi ◽  
Lotfi B. Merabet ◽  
Zaira Cattaneo
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Attention ◽  
Binocular Vision ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Line Bisection ◽  
Haptic Modality ◽  
Hemisphere Dominance ◽  
The Right ◽  
Blind Individuals ◽  
Line Bisection Task

Abstract Prior studies have shown that strabismic amblyopes do not exhibit pseudoneglect in visual line bisection, suggesting that the right-hemisphere dominance in the control of spatial attention may depend on a normally developing binocular vision. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether an abnormal binocular childhood experience also affects spatial attention in the haptic modality, thus reflecting a supramodal effect. To this aim, we compared the performance of normally sighted, strabismic and early monocular blind participants in a visual and a haptic line bisection task. In visual line bisection, strabismic individuals tended to err to the right of the veridical midpoint, in contrast with normally sighted participants who showed pseudoneglect. Monocular blind participants exhibited high variability in their visual performance, with a tendency to bisect toward the direction of the functioning eye. In turn, in haptic bisection, all participants consistently erred towards the left of the veridical midpoint. Taken together, our findings support the view that pseudoneglect in the visual and haptic modality relies on different functional and neural mechanisms.

scholarly journals Peculiarities of electroencephalogram of left-handed individuals in imagination and realiza-tion of feet movements

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-368
Author(s):  
Olga A. Vedyasova ◽  
Kseniya A. Morenova
Keyword(s):  
Alpha Rhythm ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Left Handed ◽  
Hemisphere Dominance ◽  
Neurophysiological Mechanisms ◽  
The Right ◽  
Motor Acts

Background. Relevance of the study arises from a lack of knowledge about peculiarities of programming and realization of movements in individuals with different profiles of motor dominance. This knowledge is important for understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms of motor functions and for creating neurocomputer interfaces. Aim. The analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns in lefties during imaginary and real motor acts by right and left legs. Materials and Methods. The left-handed students were examined. They were divided into two groups on the basis of coefficients of motor asymmetry – with low (n=14) and high (n=7) degree of right-hemisphere dominance (LDRD and HDRD). EEG was recorded on neurovisor «NVX 36 digital DC EEG» in standard leads at rest and in successive imagination and fulfilment of movements by the right and left legs. Types of EEG were determined and the amplitude of the sensorimotor alpha-rhythm (mu-rhythm) was evaluated on the basis of analysis of spectral patterns of EEG. Results. It was shown that the majority of left-handed individuals with LDRD had type I EEG, and the minority had type III, whereas all left-handed individuals with HDRD had type I EEG. In imagination and realization of leg movements in the first group the quantity of individuals with EEG of type III increased, while in the second group the type of EEG did not change. Motor tasks were associated with depression of alpha-rhythm in central and frontal areas, but with different extent of evidence in lefties with LDRD and HDRD. More pronounced desynchronization of the central mu-rhythm was observed in left-handed individuals with HDRD, while the amplitude of the frontal alpha-rhythm, on the contrary, was more decreased in left-handed individuals with LDRD. Conclusions. The obtained data show dependence of EEG pattern in left-handed people during imagination and realization of motor acts by the leading and non-leading leg on the degree of the right hemisphere dominance that may find clinical application.

scholarly journals Peculiarities of electroencephalogram of left-handed individuals in imagination and realiza-tion of feet movements

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-368
Author(s):  
Olga A. Vedyasova ◽  
Kseniya A. Morenova
Keyword(s):  
Alpha Rhythm ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Left Handed ◽  
Hemisphere Dominance ◽  
Neurophysiological Mechanisms ◽  
The Right ◽  
Motor Acts

Background. Relevance of the study arises from a lack of knowledge about peculiarities of programming and realization of movements in individuals with different profiles of motor dominance. This knowledge is important for understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms of motor functions and for creating neurocomputer interfaces. Aim. The analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns in lefties during imaginary and real motor acts by right and left legs. Materials and Methods. The left-handed students were examined. They were divided into two groups on the basis of coefficients of motor asymmetry – with low (n=14) and high (n=7) degree of right-hemisphere dominance (LDRD and HDRD). EEG was recorded on neurovisor «NVX 36 digital DC EEG» in standard leads at rest and in successive imagination and fulfilment of movements by the right and left legs. Types of EEG were determined and the amplitude of the sensorimotor alpha-rhythm (mu-rhythm) was evaluated on the basis of analysis of spectral patterns of EEG. Results. It was shown that the majority of left-handed individuals with LDRD had type I EEG, and the minority had type III, whereas all left-handed individuals with HDRD had type I EEG. In imagination and realization of leg movements in the first group the quantity of individuals with EEG of type III increased, while in the second group the type of EEG did not change. Motor tasks were associated with depression of alpha-rhythm in central and frontal areas, but with different extent of evidence in lefties with LDRD and HDRD. More pronounced desynchronization of the central mu-rhythm was observed in left-handed individuals with HDRD, while the amplitude of the frontal alpha-rhythm, on the contrary, was more decreased in left-handed individuals with LDRD. Conclusions. The obtained data show dependence of EEG pattern in left-handed people during imagination and realization of motor acts by the leading and non-leading leg on the degree of the right hemisphere dominance that may find clinical application.

scholarly journals Role of frontal cortex in inferential reasoning: Evidence from the Word Context Test

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATRINA KEIL ◽  
JULIANA BALDO ◽  
EDITH KAPLAN ◽  
JOEL KRAMER ◽  
DEAN C. DELIS
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Prior Experience ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Inferential Reasoning ◽  
Discourse Comprehension ◽  
Frontal Lobe Lesions ◽  
Word Context ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
The Right

Problem: Inferential reasoning in language involves the ability to deduce information based on context and prior experience. This ability has been generally studied as a right-hemisphere function. Recent research, however, has suggested that inferencing involves anterior regions of both the left and right hemispheres. Methods: We further explored this idea by testing a group of non-aphasic, focal frontal patients (right and left hemisphere) on a new test of inferencing, the Word Context Test. The Word Context Test requires examinees to identify the meaning of a made-up word (e.g., prifa) based on its use in a series of sentences. Findings: Patients with frontal lobe lesions were significantly impaired on this task relative to a group of age- and education-matched controls. Contrary to earlier research focusing on a special role for the right hemisphere in inferencing, there was considerable overlap in performance of right- and left-frontal patients, with right-frontal patients performing better. Conclusions: These findings suggest that inferencing is disrupted following focal frontal injury and have implications for discourse comprehension in non-aphasic patients. (JINS, 2005, 11, 426–433.)

scholarly journals The Right Hemisphere Is Responsible for the Greatest Differences in Human Brain Response to High-Arousing Emotional versus Neutral Stimuli: A MEG Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 960
Author(s):  
Mina Kheirkhah ◽  
Philipp Baumbach ◽  
Lutz Leistritz ◽  
Otto W. Witte ◽  
Martin Walter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
Brain Response ◽  
Whole Brain ◽  
Brain Responses ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
The Right ◽  
Healthy Participants

Studies investigating human brain response to emotional stimuli—particularly high-arousing versus neutral stimuli—have obtained inconsistent results. The present study was the first to combine magnetoencephalography (MEG) with the bootstrapping method to examine the whole brain and identify the cortical regions involved in this differential response. Seventeen healthy participants (11 females, aged 19 to 33 years; mean age, 26.9 years) were presented with high-arousing emotional (pleasant and unpleasant) and neutral pictures, and their brain responses were measured using MEG. When random resampling bootstrapping was performed for each participant, the greatest differences between high-arousing emotional and neutral stimuli during M300 (270–320 ms) were found to occur in the right temporo-parietal region. This finding was observed in response to both pleasant and unpleasant stimuli. The results, which may be more robust than previous studies because of bootstrapping and examination of the whole brain, reinforce the essential role of the right hemisphere in emotion processing.

The role of the right hemisphere in processing negative sentences in context

1986 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina D'Urso ◽  
Gianfranco Denes ◽  
Stefano Testa ◽  
Carlo Semenza
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
The Right

Metaphors and verbal creativity: The role of the right hemisphere

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 602-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinat Gold ◽  
Miriam Faust ◽  
Elisheva Ben-Artzi
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Verbal Creativity ◽  
The Right

scholarly journals Dichotic words listening test: technical aspects and results in normal right-handed individuals

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Regina Caner-Cukiert ◽  
Arthur Cukiert
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Dominance ◽  
Listening Test ◽  
Left Handed ◽  
Listening Tests ◽  
Msec Interval ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Hemisphere Dominance ◽  
Four Blocks ◽  
Right Ear Advantage ◽  
The Right

Dichotic listening tests have been being used in an increasing frequency to determine in a non-invasive way the cerebral dominance in right- and left-handed patients. This is especially relevant when surgery in eloquent brain areas is being contemplated. A Portuguese version of the dichotic words listening test was developed based mainly on Wexler's protocol. It consisted of 15 pairs of words with a stimulus dominance lower than 50%. They were recorded using natural voice and time and intensity synchronization by means of a specialized software. Each pair of words was presented twice in different channels within each block. The items were randomized and presented with a 300 msec interval between each trial. Four blocks of 30 pairs of words each were created, totalizing 120 trials. In the scoring process, the words heard over the right and left ears were wrote down. The number of times each word was heard over each ear was computed and their values subtracted yielding a partial score for each specific word pair. This process was repeated for all stimuli pair and a final score for right and left predominance was then reached. Thirty-two right handed normal individuals underwent the test 93.8% showed a right ear advantage. These results are very similar to the actual left hemisphere dominance rate in a right-handed population.

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