ERP and RT signs of a rightward bias for spatial orienting in a split-brain patient

Neuroreport. 1994 Dec 20;5(18):2457-61. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199412000-00013.

Abstract

Neuropsychological data have shown that the two cerebral hemispheres differ in the control of spatial attention. The present study investigated hemispheric asymmetries and visuomotor integration in a split-brain patient and three control subjects. Simple reaction times (RTs) and event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to lateralized stimuli presented at different eccentricities in the left and right visual hemifields. Both electrophysiological and behavioural data showed that, unlike controls, the split-brain patient showed a strong rightward attentional bias resulting in shorter RTs and larger P300 potentials to stimuli falling in the rightmost space. Furthermore, ERPs also showed that while the RH has a bilateral control of visual space, the LH spatial orienting capability is most restricted to the contralateral hemifield.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Behavior / physiology
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Corpus Callosum / surgery
  • Electrophysiology
  • Epilepsy / surgery*
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Functional Laterality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Reaction Time
  • Visual Fields