TY - JOUR

T1 - Hemispheric specialisation in haptic processing

AU - Tomlinson, Simon P

AU - Davis, Nick J

AU - Morgan, Helen M

AU - Bracewell, R Martyn

N1 - Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2011/7

Y1 - 2011/7

N2 - This study investigated the organising principles of touch. We examined specialisations within the haptic system and their hemispheric distribution. Haptic processing consists of the integration of data from multiple sources to form a single percept. Previous research provides strong support for a hierarchical and functional distribution within haptic processing. We investigated hemispheric asymmetry in haptic discrimination of objects with differing textures and centres of mass. By analogy with vision it was hypothesised that participants would demonstrate a left-hand advantage for centre of mass discrimination (a 'global', presumed right hemisphere, judgement) and a right-hand advantage for surface texture judgements (a 'local', presumed left hemisphere discrimination). We found that left-handed participants showed these effects to a lesser degree than did the right-handers, consistent with the notion that left-handed people generally show weaker asymmetries in bimanual tasks. In a second experiment the effect of conflicting information on haptic percept formation was investigated. Following from the previous hypotheses it was predicted that participants would be more accurate with their right hands at judging conflicting surfaces. Contrary to predictions an advantage was demonstrated for the left hand for texture discrimination and for the right hand for centre of mass judgement.

AB - This study investigated the organising principles of touch. We examined specialisations within the haptic system and their hemispheric distribution. Haptic processing consists of the integration of data from multiple sources to form a single percept. Previous research provides strong support for a hierarchical and functional distribution within haptic processing. We investigated hemispheric asymmetry in haptic discrimination of objects with differing textures and centres of mass. By analogy with vision it was hypothesised that participants would demonstrate a left-hand advantage for centre of mass discrimination (a 'global', presumed right hemisphere, judgement) and a right-hand advantage for surface texture judgements (a 'local', presumed left hemisphere discrimination). We found that left-handed participants showed these effects to a lesser degree than did the right-handers, consistent with the notion that left-handed people generally show weaker asymmetries in bimanual tasks. In a second experiment the effect of conflicting information on haptic percept formation was investigated. Following from the previous hypotheses it was predicted that participants would be more accurate with their right hands at judging conflicting surfaces. Contrary to predictions an advantage was demonstrated for the left hand for texture discrimination and for the right hand for centre of mass judgement.

KW - Cerebral Cortex

KW - Discrimination (Psychology)

KW - Female

KW - Functional Laterality

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Reference Values

KW - Stereognosis

KW - Touch Perception

KW - Comparative Study

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.05.018

DO - 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.05.018

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21658397

VL - 49

SP - 2703

EP - 2710

JO - Neuropsychologia

JF - Neuropsychologia

SN - 0028-3932

IS - 9

ER -