Brain hemisphericity and developmental dyslexia

Res Dev Disabil. 2013 May;34(5):1536-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2013.01.027. Epub 2013 Mar 5.

Abstract

The present study examined the link between brain hemisphericity and dyslexia in secondary school students, using the Preference Test (PT), a widely used self-report index of preferred hemisphere thinking styles. The hypothesis was that differences would be revealed between the dyslexic group and their peers in hemispheric preference. A total of 45 secondary school students who were diagnosed with dyslexia and attended regular public schools formed the learning disabled group. A comparison group was formed of pupils who attended the same classes (N=90), and these were matched for age and sex with dyslexics (1 dyslexic: 2 control). The results revealed that significantly more dyslexic pupils displayed a preference for a right hemisphere thinking style compared to their peers who adopted a left hemisphere thinking style. This finding is in line with the suggestion of the greater right hemisphere involvement in the expression of developmental dyslexia.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology*
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology*
  • Dyslexia / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Learning / physiology
  • Male
  • Patient Preference
  • Psychometrics
  • Reading
  • Thinking / physiology