The Role of Hand, Eye, and Ear Lateralization in the Sense of Rhythm of the Athletes

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship among the hand, eye, and ear lateralizations and the sense of rhythm of the athletes randomly selected from different sport branches.A total of 115 elite athletes including 72 males (62.6%) and 43 females (37.4%) whose mean age was 22.3±2.4 years and who receive training at different departments of the Faculty of Sports Sciences, Ataturk University were included in the study. Hand preference was assessed based on the Geschwind score by applying Edinburgh Inventory test. The dominant eye was tested by the Dolman Method (hole-in-the-card test). Hearing durations were measured using 128 Hz diapason and digital chronometer. The rhythm perception and application skills were assessed considering the rhythmic answers given practically to the rhythm patterns previously prepared by the researcher.As for the handedness of the athletes, 16.5% of them were left-handed (n=19), 7.8% (n=9) were two-handed, and 75.7% (n=87) were right-handed. While 18.3% (n=21) had good hearing durations with left ear, and 13.9% (n=16) had good hearing durations with right ear, 67.8% (n=78) had very close hearing durations with two ears. While left eye of 41.7% (n=48) was dominant, the right eye of 58.3% (n=67) was dominant. According to the rhythm perception and application test results, 46.1% of the athletes were weak (n=53), 30.4% at the midlevel (n=35), 13.9% (n=16) good, and 9.6% (n=11) at very good level.No significant relationship was found between the eye and ear lateralization of the athletes and their rhythm perception and application skills; however, it was found that the sense of rhythm of the left-handed individuals was better than the right-handed ones with respect to the handedness.

Effect of Handedness and Footedness on Some Motoric Characteristics in Amateur Soccer Players

“…When it is considered that hand and foot preferences can be changed through training, it is possible to say that while developing behaviors specific to a branch, not only genes but also environmental factors, training, and experiences are influential (Erhan et al, 2018). In this study, no statistically significant difference was found between heights, leg length, body weights, ages and 8 skinfold measurements in terms of hand preference of soccer players (p> 0.05).…”

“…12.4% of total athletes were found to be left-handed in Cingoz et al"s (2018) study. It was reported by Erhan et al (2018) that 16.5% of the athletes were left-handed, 75.7% were right-handed and 7.8% used both hands. İmamoğlu and Kilcigil (2007) found soccer players use left foot with a rate of 16.7%, while 83.3% use right foot when they play football.…”

“…Future studies should be focused on both preference and performance measures as well as performance demands associated with the domain of interest in order to investigate the impact of handedness and task-specific lateral preference on high achievement in sports or related behavioral domains (Lofting et al, 2014). Erhan et al, (2018) suggested that hand and foot preferences can be changed through training. The researchers suggest that differences in the handedness of soccer players need to be further investigated and we recommend that effects of handedness differences must be taken into account when designing experiments into human cognition and soccer training.…”

“…A greater number of people are classified as right-handed and using right leg . Being either right-handed or left-handed may sometimes be very effective and determinative (Erhan et al, 2018). These muscles are frequently used in football.…”

Influences of viewing angle, product position, and consumers’ physical characteristics on their Kansei images

“…Fagard found no relationship between dominant hand and dominant eye and reading ability [ 7 ]. Erhan and Gerek investigated the relationships among the dominant hand, dominant eye, dominant ear, and exercise rhythm of athletes [ 8 ]. Witkowski et al studied the cognitive steps taken by customers when they booked a room online and the effects of website aesthetics on their booking intention [ 9 ].…”