This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hiscock, M. Articles by Kinsbourne, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hiscock, M. Articles by Kinsbourne, M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Specialization of the Cerebral Hemispheres

Implications for Learning

Merrill Hiscock is an associate professor of psychology and an associate member in psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan. He received his PhD in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Marcel Kinsbourne

Marcel Kinsbourne is Director of behavioral neurology at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center in Waltham. Massachusetts, and holds academic appointments at Boston University, Brandeis University, and Harvard Medical School. He received his MD from Oxford University. Address: Merrill Hiscock, Psychology Division, University Hospital, Saskatoon. Saskatchewan S7N OXO. Canada.

Cerebral hemisphere specialization and its relation to learning disabilities are examined in the light of concepts and findings from contemporary neuropsychology. Attention is focused upon four constructs—cognitive ability, laterality, functional brain asymmetry, and structural brain asymmetry—and the associations among them. It is emphasized that these constructs represent different levels of analysis and consequently are not readily related to each other. In particular, it is argued that laterality, which is a behavioral phenomenon, does not provide direct information about physiological or anatomical characteristics of the brain. Although the available evidence is inconclusive in many respects, it points to certain conclusions about hemispheric specialization and cognitive development: (1) Differential specialization of the left and right halves of the brain occurs very early in life; (2) anomalous hemispheric specialization in an otherwise normal brain is not associated with cognitive deficit; (3) left-and right-hemisphere cognitive styles are metaphors without neurological substance; and (4) abnormal cognitive development may stem either from damage to the cerebrum or from a combination of cerebral damage and a maladaptive pattern of activation by a subcortical activating system.

Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol. 20, No. 3, 130-143 (1987)
DOI: 10.1177/002221948702000301


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. E. Obrzut Dyslexia and Neurodevelopmental Pathology: Is the Neurodiagnostic Technology Ahead of the Psychoeducational Technology? J Learn Disabil, April 1, 1989; 22(4): 217 - 218. [PDF]