About the Book

Is "right-brain" thought essentially creative, and "left-brain" strictly logical? Joseph B. Hellige argues that this view is far too simplistic. Surveying extensive data in the field of cognitive science, he disentangles scientific facts from popular assumptions about the brain's two hemispheres.

In Hemispheric Asymmetry, Hellige explains that the "right brain" and "left brain" are actually components of a much larger cognitive system encompassing cortical and subcortical structures, all of which interact to produce unity of thought and action. He further explores questions of whether hemispheric asymmetry is unique to humans, and how it might have evolved. This book is a valuable overview of hemispheric asymmetry and its evolutionary precedents.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. Introduction A. Five Recurring Themes B. Learning about Behavioral Asymmetries in Humans c. The Consequences of Unilateral Brain Injury D. Split-Brain Patients and the Positive Competence of Each Hemisphere E. Perceptual Asymmetries in Neurologically Intact Individuals F. Response Asymmetries in Neurologically Intact Individuals G. Measures of Localized Brain Activity H. The Plan of the Book I. Summary and Conclusions 2. Behavioral Asymmetries in Humans A. A Review of Behavioral Asymmetries B. Handedness and the Control of Motor Activities C. Language D. Visuospatial Processing E. Emotion F. The Quest for a Fundamental Dichotomy G. A Sampling of Suggested Dichotomies H. Multitask Studies and the Quest for a Fundamental Dichotomy I. Summary and Conclusions 3. Hemispheric Asymmetry and Components of Perception, Cognition, and Action A. Language B. Vision C. Global versus Local Processing D. Low versus High Visual-Spatial Frequency E. Coordinate versus Categorical Spatial Relations F. Relationships among Components of Vision G. Imagery H. Attention I. Components of Visual Orienting J. Regulation of Alertness K. Hemisphere-Specific Priming and Interference L. Summary and Conclusions 4. Biological Asymmetries in the Human Brain A. Anatomical Asymmetries B. Pharmacological and Chemical Asymmetries C. Callosal Connectivity D. Biology and Behavior E. Summary and Conclusions 5. Behavioral and Brain Asymmetries in Nonhuman A. Species B. Motor Performance C. Primates D. Rodents E. Other Species F. The Production and Perception of Vocalizations G. Primates H. Rodents I. Birds J. Other Species K. Visuospatial Processes L. Primates M. Rodents N. Birds O. Dolphins P. Motivation and Emotion Q. Rats R. Chicks S. Additional Evidence of Biological Asymmetry T. Summary and Conclusions 6. Varieties of Interhemispheric Interaction A. Cooperation between the Hemispheres B. The Need for Cooperation C. The Corpus Callosum D. Subcortical Structures E. Benefits and Costs of Interhemispheric F. Cooperation G. Task Difficulty H. Practice I. Mutually Exclusive Processes J. Hemispheric Ability, Hemispheric Dominance, and Metacontrol K. Studies of Split-Brain Patients L. Studies of Neurologically Intact Individuals M. Determinants of Metacontrol N. Summary and Conclusions 7. Individual Differences A. Dimensions of Individual Variation B. Direction of Hemispheric Asymmetry C. Magnitude of Hemispheric Asymmetry D. Asymmetric Arousal of the Hemispheres E. Complementarity of Asymmetries F. Interhemispheric Communication G. Handedness H. Sex I. Intellectual Abilities J. Intellectual Precocity k. Dyslexia L. Psychopathology M. Hemisphericity N. Summary and Conclusions 8. Hemispheric Asymmetry across the Life Span A. Does Hemispheric Asymmetry Develop? B. Prenatal Asymmetries C. The Rate of Maturation of the Two Hemispheres D. Cranio-Facial Development E. Fetal Position F. "Snowball" Mechanisms G. Hemispheric Asymmetry from Birth through Young H. Adulthood I. Handedness and the Control of Motor Activities J. Language K. Visuospatial Processing L. Emotion M. Biological Asymmetry N. Hemispheric Asymmetry in Old Age O. Do the Hemispheres Age Differently? P. Aging and the Dimensions of Individual Variation Q. Summary and Conclusions 9. The Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetry A. Symmetry versus Asymmetry B. Snowball Effects C. Continuity across Species? D. From Monkeys to Humans E. The Evolution of Primates F. The Emergence of Hominids and Humans G. Milestones in Hominid Evolution H. Walking Upright I. Tool Manufacture and Use J. Language K. Prolonged Immaturity L. Summary and Conclusions 10. Epilogue A. The Five Themes Revisited B. Toward a Model of Hemispheric Asymmetry C. Concluding Comments Bibliography Index of Authors Cited General Index