| Abstract: | One view of brain organization holds that the left cerebral hemisphere controls language processes, while the right hemisphere deals with various nonverbal activities such as visuospatial tasks. It is argued that a substantial proportion of the population deviates from this modal model, and that the investigation of individual differences in brain organization through careful studies of neurologically intact Ss is critical to the understanding of cerebral function. Deviations from the modal model are seen as normal and genetically determined, rather than pathological in origin. It is suggested that different functions, such as handedness, language, and visuospatial ability, are lateralized by relatively independent mechanisms, and therefore can be dissociated. Evidence for a positive relation between brain lateralization and cognitive ability is presented. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
