RESUMEN
Current research and theory support the position that there are diurnal changes in the relative functional dominance of the hemispheres in the "normal" population. In one example of this position, Bakan (1978) has stated that REM sleep allows for right hemisphere dominance with a relative absence of left hemisphere interference. The present study involved pre- and postREM deprivation visual presentation of cognitive/perceptual performance tasks that had previously been demonstrated to have lateralizing value. Ten right-handed adult males each spent three nights in a sleep laboratory completing these tasks and a variety of questionnaires. After REM deprivation, performance decreased on right hemisphere tasks presented to the right hemisphere first. However, left-hemisphere-first presentation of one of the right hemisphere tasks (facial recognition) actually resulted in performance improvement after REM deprivation. This improvement was attributed to a suppression or diminution of capacity of the primary processing style of the left hemisphere. Results are further discussed in terms of Bakan's theory, the different processing "styles" of the two hemispheres, possible functions of REM and relationships of the biological cycles to possible shifts in cerebral laterality.
Asunto(s)
Dominancia Cerebral/fisiología , Privación de Sueño/fisiología , Sueño REM/fisiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Humanos , Masculino , Tiempo de Reacción/fisiología , Lectura , Percepción Visual/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Several writers have suggested that there is selective inhibition of aversive right hemisphere processes from reaching the left hemisphere, thus reducing reportable awareness, although the right hemisphere processes might still affect behavior. Two similar experiments are reported supporting this theory. In the first of three phases, subjects learned a paired associate list to a criterion of one perfect trial. Second, distant associates of some of the words learned in phase 1 were punished. Third, subjects attempted to recall the first word list, with recall cued sometimes in the left visual field and sometimes in the right. Associates of punished words were more likely to be forgotten than control words, when cued in the left visual field so they had to cross from right to left hemisphere to be vocalized. Surprisingly, associates of punished words were remembered better when cued in the right visual field.