Footedness is a Better Predictor of Language Lateralisation than Handedness

Abstract

A tremendous amount of experimental work has attempted to identify a reliable behavioural predictor of language lateralisation. Preferred handedness has probably received the most attention, but there are some recent reports that preferred footedness may serve as a more reliable predictor. The present study sought to test this claim by selectively recruiting 32 participants such that the factors of handedness, footedness, and gender were completely crossed. Language lateralisation was assessed with the Fused Dichotic Words Test (FDWT), and lateral preference for both handedness and footedness was assessed using selfreport questionnaires. Ear advantage on the dichotic task varied significantly with preferred foot (P <.001) but not with preferred hand (P = .196). This result is problematic for evolutionary theories of cerebral lateralisation that claim lefthemispheric language is related to fine manual motor skill and sequencing. Language lateralisation may be more closely related to asymmetrical control of whole-body finely sequenced movements.