Lateralization of motor behavior as a measure of cognitive functioning and resting-state electrocortical activity

<p>Background. Research has shown that the laterality between hands in self-report and motor measures maps onto hemispheric lateralization and this has important implications for psychopathology (e.g., depression) and cognition. The present study evaluates the relationship between performance on finger-tapping tasks (FTT), alpha power during resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), handedness, and relevant psychological outcomes. Methods. A sample of 48 individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 completed online assessments including a modified FTT paradigm, the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, and a common depression measure. A subset of 20 participants completed assessments of motor and executive functioning including a self-report executive functioning measure, the Delis-Kaplan Executive System (D-KEFS) Trail Making Test, Grooved Pegboard Task (GPT), and restingstate EEG data collection. Results. Key findings include (a) a faster reaction time of the dominant hand than that of the non-dominant hand within participants, (b) significant correlations between FTT reaction time (RT) and the GPT, (c) a significant correlation between D-KEFS Condition 2 and a measure of motor inhibitory control (MIC) in FTT, (d) an approaching to significant moderation effect of handedness consistency on the relationship between MIC and Condition 2, and (e) an approaching significance correlation between RT and alpha EEG. Depression did not relate to the FTT variables. Discussion. The findings indicated that the RT variable of the modified FTT relates to other motor measures and EEG laterality. FTT MIC relates best to cognitive measures and should be investigated further. Exploratory analyses suggest continuation trials of FTT might be a more appropriate variable to investigate in the future.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• Dillahunt, Alina

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jin Bo, PhD
• Renée Lajiness-O’Neill, PhD
• Jamie Lawler, PhD

• Cognitive functioning
• Depression
• Electroencphalography
• Handedness
• Lateralization
• Motor functioning
• Neurosciences
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1332

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2661