Asymmetry in Resting Alpha Activity: Effects of Handedness

Abstract

Study Aim: Frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha band power during rest shows increased right, and/or decreased left, hemisphere activity under conditions of state or trait withdrawal-associated affect. Non-right-handers (NRH) are more likely to have mental illnesses and dispositions that involve such withdrawal-related affect. The aim of the study was to examine whether NRH might be characterized by increased right, relative to left, hemisphere activity during rest. Methods: The present research investigated that hypothesis by examining resting EEG alpha power in consistently-right-handed (CRH) and NRH individuals. Results: In support of the hypothesis, NRH demonstrated decreased right hemisphere alpha power, and therefore increased right hemisphere activity, during rest, compared to CRH. Conclusions: The study demonstrates further support for an association between increased right hemisphere activity and negative affect via an association between such EEG activity and NRH.

Degree of Handedness, but not Direction, is a Systematic Predictor of Cognitive Performance

“…More consistent hand preference is associated with smaller corpus callosum size (e.g., Luders et al, 2010) and with decreased right hemisphere activation (e.g., Propper et al, 2012). Accordingly, consistent- versus inconsistent handedness is associated with decreased versus increased interhemispheric interaction and with decreased versus increased right hemisphere access, respectively.…”

The contributions of handedness and working memory to episodic memory

“…Interestingly, consistent handers who scored low on the dissociation scale were left lateralized on the same EEG spectrum. Propper, Pierce, Geisler, Christman, and Bellorado (2012), showed a relation between inconsistent-handedness and decreased EEG alpha band activity (i.e., increased excitation/activation) over the right hemisphere. In view of these findings, it could therefore be speculated that inconsistent-handers possess greater volumes of the corpus callosum that aids in greater interhemispheric interaction and therefore in greater right hemispheric processing, and this results in a significantly better recall of episodic memories in inconsistent-handers relative to consistent-handers.…”

Alternating Gender: Individuals Who Frequently Switch Between Feeling Male and Female

“…Little work has been conducted on ambidexterity, but some work on non-right-handedness in general has found a higher rate of atypical language lateralization (Szaflarski et al, 2002). Non-right-handed individuals also show increased right hemisphere activity and elevated rates of psychopathology and withdrawal-related affect (Propper, Pierce, Geisler, Christman, & Bellorado, 2012). In our sample, male state was commonly associated with and triggered by threat and anger.…”