Hemisphericity and its Validity for Education, Vocation, and Cognitive Style

Abstract

Six studies are described demonstrating practical use for individual assessment of specialized cognitive function associated with the left and right cerebral hemispheres. Study # 1 demonstrates that the majority of referred reading difficulties have a cognitive profile for which verbosequential abilities are 0.5 SD below average, while visuospatial abilities are 0.5 SD above average. Study # 2 also demonstrates that first degree family members of dyslexics favor visuospatial skills. Study # 3 demonstrates that public school children have lower reading but not lower arithmetic scores if their cognitive profile favors visuospatial skills. Study #4 demonstrates that visuospatial skills were predictive of success in training military pilots. Study #5 demonstrates a modest association of cognitive function and management skill. Finally, study #6 demonstrates that valid tests of brain function were not related to preference inventories purportedly designed to measure the same thing. The conclusion from these studies is that tests assessing specialized cognitive function may be useful in some areas of prediction of academic success and, to a lesser degree, management success. But caution in interpretation is advised because not all predictions were supported by the data.

Key Words:

• Hemisphericity
• hemispheric asymmetry
• cognitive function
• achievement
• management
• occupation