Left hand dominance affects supra-second time processing

Abstract

Previous studies exploring specific brain functions of left- and right-handed subjects have shown variances in spatial and motor abilities that might be explained according to consistent structural and functional differences. Given the role of both spatial and motor information in the processing of temporal intervals, we designed a study aimed at investigating timing abilities in left-handed subjects. To this purpose both left- and right-handed subjects were asked to perform a time reproduction of sub-second vs. supra-second time intervals with their left and right hand. Our results show that during processing of the supra-second intervals left-handed participants sub-estimated the duration of the intervals, independently of the hand used to perform the task, while no differences were reported for the sub-second intervals. These results are discussed on the basis of recent findings on supra-second motor timing, as well as emerging evidence that suggests a linear representation of time with a left-to-right displacement.

The perception of time in childhood migraine

“…We used a version of the time reproduction task previously used by our group (11,12). Subjects sat at a distance of 50 cm opposite the monitor configured to a refresh rate of 60 Hz, and fixated on a black cross of 0.2 degrees in diameter, centrally located on the screen.…”

Manual dexterity: Functional lateralisation patterns and motor efficiency

“…Overall, left-handers show a mirror-opposite and reduced hemispheric lateralisation as indicated from reduced structural asymmetries of the motor system 4 (Amunts et al, 1996) and less robust functional patterns for complex unimanual and bimanual movements (Kloppel et al, 2007;Serrien et al, 2012;Solodkin, Hlustik, Noll, & Small, 2001;Vingerhoets et al, 2012). Further evidence for movement-related differences between left-and right-handers is provided by research that has examined visuo-spatial adaptations (Begliomini, Nelini, Caria, Grodd, & Castiello, 2008;Johnson-Frey, Newman-Norlund, & Grafton, 2005;Vingerhoets et al, 2012), and response parameterisation (Reid & Serrien, 2012;Solodkin et al, 2001;Vicario, Bonni, & Koch, 2011). Combined, these observations denote that the processing mechanisms for motor behaviour vary as a function of handedness.…”

Hemispheric asymmetries and the control of motor sequences

“…In right-handers, sequencing with either hand strongly relies on the integrity of the left hemisphere and in particular on the premotor and parietal areas [16,28], which suggests the significance of the left hemisphere for motor acts. The latter is also supported from patient studies that have revealed that motor skills are disrupted by lesions of the left hemisphere even when the ipsilesional hand performs, whereas damage of the right hemisphere only produces in information processing that effect on behavioural performance [3,6,23,55] and that especially become prominent as a function of task complexity [50]. Building on previous research work, the aim of the present electroencephalogram (EEG) study is to evaluate the neural correlates of unimanual and bimanual sequencing in leftvs.…”