The functional significance of being lateralized

The key question of this project is What are the functional or fitness advantages of being lateralized that may have been selected upon during evolution. This project addresses the follwing: 1) Is the typical organization of functions in the brain (e.g. language lateralized to the left hemisphere and spatial orientation to the right) associated with better performance? A functional transcranial Doppler study. 2) What are the differences between left- and right-handers in fitness markers such as creativity, health and agression? A large internet study. 3) What are the differences between left- and right-handers in acquisition of a new skill from a lefthanded or a righthanded model?

Main project

This project is part of project "Lateralization".

Researchers and partners

Behavioural and Social Sciences, Psychology

• Dr. R.H. (Reint) Geuze, Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology

University of Groningen, outside of Behavioural and Socials Sciences

• Prof. Dr. A.G.G. Groothuis
• N. Zickert, PhD student

Education

Selection of BA and MA student projects

• This project will finish in 2017. No chances for theses left.

Results

Publications

• Geuze, R.H., Zickert, N., Beking, T., Lust, J.M., Groothuis, T.G.G. (2016) Is hersenlateralisatie verschillend tussen links- en rechtshandigen? Neuropraxis 20(4), 115-120. DOI 10.1007/s12474-016-0128-1

More information

• Publieksactiviteiten Weekend van de Wetenschap – 4 en 5 okt. NEMO Amsterdam; Apenheul Apeldoorn; Universiteitsmuseum Groningen; en Bernoulliborg Groningen: Publieksdeelname en -interactie over het onderzoek Handvoorkeur en handvaardigheid en creativiteit; zie www.hetweekendvandewetenschap.nl
• Nationaal onderzoek – internetstudie Handvoorkeur en Creativiteit (zie www.helpeenhandje.nl)
• Schriftelijk interview NU.nl http://www.nu.nl/wetenschap/3892111/nederlandse-wetenschappers-onderzoeken-linkshandigheid.html
• Radio interview over handvoorkeur - RTV-Noord – 20 okt. 2014 www.rtvnoord.nl/radio/radio.asp