On the complex relation between perceptual characteristics and hemispheric asymmetry

Abstract

The relation between hemispheric asymmetry and perceptual characteristics in general, and the spatial frequency content of input in particular, are discussed in reference to Peterzell's (1991) reply to a literature review by Christman (1989a). Three main points are presented: (1) there is evidence that spatial frequency, independent of the total information/energy content of input, does influence patterns of hemispheric asymmetry; (2) that information and energy represent potentially dissociable constructs that need to be considered separately; and (3) that there is recent evidence that numerous input and task characteristics, other than spatial frequency content, influence hemispheric asymmetry (e.g., spatial phase, relative spatial frequency, temporal frequency, task requirements, etc.).